TRENDING
Manufacturing has experienced a three-year decline in scores , most likely due to changes in the operating environment and the evolution of attacks . On the other hand , finance continued to demonstrate the highest maturity benchmark score for the third consecutive year , of 1.84 , a 0.02 decrease on last year , however .
Kazu Yozawa , CEO of NTT ’ s Security division , said : “ Last year we predicted a surge in targeted , opportunistic attacks and unfortunately , this has proven all too true . While these industries have done their best to maintain essential services throughout disruptive times , the fall in security standards when companies need them most is alarming . As services continue to move online and become increasingly digital to account for the new normal , organizations must be extra vigilant in upholding and maintaining best practices in their security .”
The fall in security standards when companies need them most is alarming . malware . Cryptominers have replaced spyware as the most common malware in the world , but the use of certain variants of malware against specific industries continues to evolve .
Worms appeared most frequently in the finance and manufacturing sectors . Healthcare was impacted by remote access trojans , while the technology industry was targetted by ransomware . The education sector was hit by cryptominers due to the popularization of mining among students who exploit unprotected infrastructures .
The crypto-currency market is a prime example , with cryptominers accounting for a staggering 41 % of all detected malware in 2020 . XMRig coinminer was the most common variant , representing nearly 82 % of all coinminer activity and nearly 99 % in EMEA specifically .
Mark Thomas , who leads NTT ’ s Global Threat Intelligence Center , said : “ On one hand you have threat actors taking advantage of a global disaster , and on the other , cybercriminals capitalizing on unprecedented market booms . The common thread throughout both of these situations is unpredictability and risk . Changes in operating models or adoption of new technologies
Malware sees a metamorphosis : Crypto malware surges while trojans become more common
While malware is becoming more commoditized in features and functionality , it also became more diverse over the last year with the growth of multi-function present opportunities for malicious actors and with a surging crypto-currency market popular among inexperienced students ; attacks were bound to happen . Now , as we enter a more stable phase of the pandemic , organizations and individuals alike must prioritize cybersecurity hygiene across all industries , including the supply chain .”
24 INTELLIGENTCIO LATAM www . intelligentcio . com