cyber trends
HP URGES BUSINESSES TO PROTECT THE ENDPOINT . A NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THAT THE ENTERPRISE HAS BECOME THE MOST COMMON TARGET , AS NATION STATES TAKE AIM AT ORGANISATIONS WITH HIGH- VALUE IP , SUCH AS TECHNOLOGY AND PHARMACEUTICAL FIRMS .
P has announced
H the findings of a new study – Nation States , Cyberconflict and the Web of Profit – showing that nation state cyberattacks are becoming more frequent , varied and open ; moving us closer to a point of ‘ advanced cyberconflict ’ than at any time since the inception of the Internet .
The research – which was conducted by Dr Mike McGuire , Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Surrey , and sponsored by HP – highlights that there has been a 100 % rise in ‘ significant ’ nation state incidents between 2017 – 2020 . Analysis of over 200 cybersecurity incidents associated with nation state activity since 2009 also shows the enterprise is now the most common target ( 35 %), followed by cyberdefence ( 25 %), media and communications ( 14 %), government
New study highlights 100 % rise in nation state cyberattacks in last three years
bodies and regulators ( 12 %) and critical infrastructure ( 10 %).
In addition to the analysis of nation state cyberattacks , the research also draws upon first-hand intelligence gathering from informants across the Dark Web and consultations with an expert panel of 50 leading practitioners in relevant fields ( such as cybersecurity , intelligence , government , academia and law enforcement ). The findings paint a clear picture of escalations in tensions , supported by increasingly complex structures that intersect with the underground cybercrime economy – referred to as the Web of Profit . Key findings include :
• 64 % of the expert panel said 2020 presented a ‘ worrying ’ or ‘ very worrying ’ escalation in tensions , with 75 % saying COVID-19 presented a ‘ significant opportunity ’ for nation states to exploit .
• ‘ Supply chain ’ attacks saw a rise of 78 % in 2019 ; between 2017 and 2020 there were over 27
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