Cyber Security Trends of 2018

What will the Cyber Security Trends of 2018 look like? We are well into the new year, and most technology enthusiasts must be wondering about what trends cyber security will be up to this year. Cyber security has been a hot topic lately, with the number of cyber crimes on the rise. From cryptocurrency hacks to ransomware, 2017 witnesses many macilicous online attacks. 2018 will probably witness even more cyber security threats.

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From supermarkets being hacked to banking information being stolen to devices being held to ransom, the various types of cyber crimes have put people into a tizzy. Needless to say, cyber security is also stepping up its game, with newer and smarter technologies being created to counter cyber crimes.

Cyber crimes keep evolving, and so do cyber security trends. What worked last year, may be insufficient to ensure safety this year. Cyber criminals have access to all modern technology and are getting smarter by the minute. To outsmart them, cyber security is getting stronger. The following are some of the cyber crime and cyber security trends that are predicted to be big this year.

Artificial Intelligence

It is no secret that artificial intelligence is now increasingly used by cyber criminals, thanks to the availability of free and commercial statistical AI implementations. While for so long AI was used on a much smaller scale, this year could see cyber criminals using AI to make more rampant attacks.

Activities like email scams and phishing attacks require a lot of time; therefore, cyber criminals use automation and machine learning to accomplish these tasks. AI is also used to accurately guess passwords without much effort.

AI is also used to counter AI, which means it will be hard to detect and analyze an AI-powered attack with an AI-powered security tool. All these combine to make 2018 the year when cyber crimes make smart use of artificial intelligence.

Cyber Hijacking

Most people have become familiar with ransomware now – the type of malware that locks you out of your own device and demands a ransom to give back control. 

Until now, these attacks were limited to a computer or a mobile device. 2018 is predicted to be the year when cyber hijacking will get worse.

Thanks to the Internet of Things, almost everything now is governed by technology and the internet. From your television and your mattress, to large scale industries and automated transportation, the Internet dominates everything.

This is good news for cyber criminals, for whom it will be easy to hijack a whole system – from an industrial system to transport automation system – and deny access to the legitimate owner or user. The price will be a hefty ransom. Enemy nations could use this method to hold a whole nation to ransom and demand a huge ransom, like setting free dangerous terrorists.

Cyber Insurance

Yes, cyber insurance is actually a concept. It has been around for a while, but has only recently gone mainstream. Cyber insurance is much like any other insurance product, except that it is meant to protect against risks related to online threats.

For instance, if your insured digital assets are affected by a malware attack, you are eligible for compensation. Cyber insurance is essential for business running critical operations on the Internet. In case of a data breach resulting in huge losses, cyber insurance could offer some form of protection.

The only downside to this concept is the confusion over the valuation of digital assets. With cyber insurance going mainstream, physical insurance companies could start offering services to insure digital assets as early as this year.

Blockchain attacks

Digital currencies and the technology powering it – Blockchain – have gone more mainstream than ever, with several places accepting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as legitimate money. Besides, the Blockchain system is being applied by various industries for different purposes.

This is a ripe time for cyber criminals to attack Bitcoin and Blockchain. Experts believe that the chances of cryptographic attacks against digital currencies are not too probable, but other blockchain systems are more vulnerable because their cryptographic algorithms may not be as strong.

Those organizations that use Blockchain system to run vital operations could face a huge risk if cyber criminals find a way to breach the technology.

Cyberspace conflict

Until now, enemy nations used traditional warfare against each other. 2018 could see a massive change, when hostile nations use cyber crime to attack another country.

From creating cyber terrorism groups to attacks on infrastructure and security, cyber warfare takes places in a lot of different ways. To prevent this, cyber borders are very likely to be set up. The downside to this is that individuals may lose their right to remain anonymous on the Internet.

Cyber Security Trends of 2018 – Final Thoughts

These and other several trends are likely to define cyber security this year. Those in the cyber space should keep their eyes open for more to come.