The 14 Cyber Threat Predictions that every company needs to take seriously in 2017

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The 14 Cyber Threat Predictions that every company needs to take seriously in 2017
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As the year comes to a close, Intel Security has revealed its Cyber Threat Predictions for 2017, which they reflect the informed opinions of 31 Intel Security thought leaders and examines current trends in cybercrime. It makes predictions about what the future may hold for organizations working to take advantage of new technologies to both advance their businesses and provide better security protection.

The 2017 threats predictions include threats around ransomware, sophisticated hardware and firmware attacks, attacks on “smart home” IoT devices, the use of machine learning to enhance social engineering attacks, and an increase in cooperation between industry and law enforcement:

1. Ransomware attacks will decrease in the second half of 2017 in volume and effectiveness.

2. Windows vulnerability exploits will continue to decline, while those targeting infrastructure software and virtualization software will increase.

3. Hardware and firmware will be increasingly targeted by sophisticated attackers.
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4. Hackers using software running on laptops will attempt “dronejackings” for a variety of criminal or hacktivist purposes.

5. Mobile attacks will combine mobile device locks with credential theft, allowing cyber thieves to access such things as banks accounts and credit cards.

6. IoT malware will open backdoors into the connected home that could go undetected for years.

7. Machine learning will accelerate the proliferation of and increase the sophistication of social engineering attacks.

8. Fake ads and purchased “likes” will continue to proliferate and erode trust.
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9. Ad wars will escalate and new techniques used by advertisers to deliver ads will be copied by attackers to boost malware delivery capabilities.

10. Hacktivists will play an important role in exposing privacy issues.

11. Leveraging increased cooperation between law enforcement and industry, law enforcement takedown operations will put a dent in cybercrime.

12. Threat intelligence sharing will make great developmental strides in 2017.

13. Cyber espionage will become as common in the private sector and criminal underworld as it is among nation-states.
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14. Physical and cybersecurity industry players will collaborate to harden products against digital threats.