As technology evolves, unfortunately, so do the vulnerabilities of individuals and businesses online with regard to cyber security. A growing number of cyber criminals are launching malware, with an estimated 300,000 malware samples generated every day meaning that less than two weeks into the New Year, more than two million samples have been launched already!
So, what does 2019 have in store for cyber security?
Artificial Intelligence inspired attacks
It’s likely that we’ll see some attacks powered by AI. Attackers have long used evasive techniques in order to bypass security systems, and the emergence of artificial intelligence means such evasion techniques are easier to come by.
Thanks to malware evasive techniques, it is now easier to bypass machine-learning engines. With artificial intelligence on the hit list of criminals worldwide, 2019 is likely to be the year we see criminals introduce AI to their malicious software to regulate target selection and examine infected devices. This enables the release of next-stage malware and technologies that are capable of going undetected.
GDPR
Also in 2019, it’s likely that the global environment will become harder to regulate and governments worldwide will look to strengthen data privacy protection policies. Last year, GDPR proved to be great progress for data protection – however, the same governments are set to argue for greater access to information.
In the first few months of 2019, over three-quarters of multinational companies are unlikely to comply with GDPR, due to confusion surrounding modern data protection regulations. However, those same regulations will also force companies to be more accountable for the way they handle customer data.
The Internet of Things (IoT) wreaking havoc
In just over half a decade, it is estimated that some 75 billion devices will be connected to the Internet of Things (IoT), and related to such a large figure is an even bigger number of new threats to identify. Even with measures in place, threats can be misunderstood and if attackers do manage to gain control of IoT devices, they are able to create huge problems for both individuals and organisations as they can use such devices to mine cryptocurrency, steal personal data and attack websites.
The end of the password
2019 may finally be the year we see the start of the password’s demise. We’ve all clicked a ‘Forgot Password’ link and the task of remembering numerous different passwords, each with a mismatch of special characters, upper and lower case and at least one number, is often just too much. The innovators of tech have sought alternatives to passwords for some time now as they opt for new authentication technologies.
The fall of Bitcoin
To many people, it won’t be surprising that Bitcoin’s bubble is bursting, and the loss of 40% of its value in November spoke volumes, with a further decline set to recorded. It may still be that cryptocurrency pays dividends for consumers – however, that 40% fall will ensure many investors steer well clear. Without that mainstream acceptance, any possibility of Bitcoin being stabilised decreases tenfold.
