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// FEATURE // atchGuard Technologies
W has highlighted its 2021 cybersecurity predictions , highlighting that in 2021 and beyond , cybercriminals will find new and innovative ways to attack individuals , their homes and devices , in order to find a path to trusted corporate networks . The global pandemic has rapidly accelerated the existing shift towards remote work , where employees operate beyond the protection of the corporate firewall . In turn , hackers will exploit vulnerabilities found in the gaps between people , their devices and the corporate network .
Corey Nachreiner , WatchGuard ’ s CTO , tells us that among the firm ’ s cybersecurity predictions for 2021 are :
Automation drives tidal wave of spear phishing campaigns
Spear phishing is an attack technique that involves highly targeted and convincing malicious emails that include specific and accurate details about a particular individual or role at a company . Historically , spear fishing is a high-investment and potentially high-return activity for hackers that has required manual and time-consuming processes .
That will change in 2021 . Cybercriminals have already started to create tools that can automate the manual aspects of spear phishing . By combining such tools with programs that scan data from social media networks and company websites , phishers can send thousands of detailed , believable spear phishing emails , with content customised to each victim .
This will dramatically increase the volume of spear phishing emails attackers can send at once , which will improve their success rate . On the bright side , these automated , volumetric spear phishing campaigns will likely be less sophisticated and easier to spot than the traditional , manually generated variety .
Regardless , you should expect a major increase in spear phishing attacks in 2021 due to automation . What ’ s more , bad actors know that anxiety and uncertainty make victims easier to exploit . As society continues to grapple with the impact of COVID-19 , global political strife and general financial insecurity in 2021 , we
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CYBERCRIMINALS HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO CREATE TOOLS THAT CAN AUTOMATE THE MANUAL ASPECTS OF SPEAR PHISHING .
Intelligent SME .
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