We all take precautions to ensure the security of our houses and belongings. We shut our windows and lock our doors whenever we leave. How come? To prevent criminals from easily breaking in and destroying the things we value most. Strangely, though, people frequently disregard their online safety – which leads to typical cybersecurity causes. And yet, cybercrime is the dominant force in the world in which we live.
In the 2023 IBM report, it was found that more than one breach had been experienced by 95% of the studied organizations With time, the numbers tend to increase. Internet criminals are becoming more vital than ever, thanks to cutting-edge technologies and cyber defenses. They are persistently targeting the online community and stealing private data.
We'll explore the topics of cybercrime and cybersecurity causes in this blog. We'll clarify the main reasons behind cybercrime. How are we giving cybercriminals too much ease of access? How can we stop the hackers, then?
Let’s dive in!
Common Cybersecurity Causes
Although there are numerous ways for an attacker to get access to an IT system to lead cybersecurity causes, most cyberattacks use similar methods. Some of the most typical forms of cyberattacks are listed below:
Human Error
Human error and cybersecurity are coming along
No human being on the planet has ever made a mistake. Making errors is necessary for being human since it helps us develop and learn. However, in cyber security, human error should be more frequently addressed.
Research conducted by IBM found that 95% of cyber security vulnerabilities result from human error. Put another way, 19 out of 20 cyber breaches might not have happened if human error had been eradicated!
Lack of Awareness
A significant portion of human mistakes stems from end users' ignorance of the proper course of action in the first place. For instance, people unaware of the dangers of phishing are significantly more likely to fall victim to such attempts, and users unaware of the dangers associated with using public Wi-Fi networks run the risk of having their credentials swiftly stolen.
Password Problems
Despite the importance of passwords, they often need to be handled by humans. According to the 2019 National Centre for Cyber Security report, the most used password worldwide is still 123456, and almost half of users reuse their primary email account password for other websites. Password mistakes are frequently made by untrained users, such as sharing or writing them down on sticky notes attached to their monitors and needing help to create strong and unique passwords.
Phishing Attacks
Phishing is a cyberattack in which harmful files that might infect a victim's device are downloaded, or private information is tricked into being disclosed via email, SMS, phone calls, social media, and social engineering techniques. Phishing attacks are one of the top causes of cybersecurity breaches in today's digital world.
Phishing attacks targeting employees are growing in quantity as well as complexity. Here are some examples of the most well-known and influential phishing emails.
Look, share, and avoid...
PayPal scam
PayPal has almost 200 million users, making it a profitable tool for online thieves. In addition to having many accounts, PayPal allows scammers to use a platform directly connected to their bank or credit card.
These emails frequently have the PayPal logo at the bottom and some plausible fine print. Once more, the goal of this scam is to put its victims into a panic attack. Usually, it does this by sending a message that says, "There's a problem with your account; please click here to fix it." Watch out; they also have fine print that seems authentic.
Unusual Email Scam
Alarms go off in full force when you receive an email or text claiming that there has been "suspicious activity on your account." Because victims are faced with perplexity, urgency, and terror, this fraud is particularly effective for con artists. See example below:
It is but one instance of the odd activity scam's potential origins. An attacker can utilize this harmful tactic on any app, website, or platform, including your Instagram account and bank.
How Phishing Exploits Human Behavior
Even though many experts and well-informed users believe they are knowledgeable about cybersecurity attacks, their arrogance or indifference usually causes them to fall victim to phishing schemes. Even after completing demanding corporate training programs on cyber safety, workers frequently fall prey to phishing scams.
According to Joseph Blankenship, vice president, and research director of Forrester, "Phishers frequently use psychological tricks to get users to take actions that they might not usually take, preying on an employee's desire to be helpful or their instinct to do what an authority figure tells them to do."
Tip: The following are the phishing detection and response tools:
Avanan
KnowBe4 PhishER
Cloudflare Zero Trust Services
Five main psychological factors—fear, stress, overconfidence, authority, and greed—tend to influence us to click links without fully absorbing the content.
Outdated Software and Systems
Cybercriminals usually target easily exploitable flaws in out-of-date software. It may result in ransomware attacks, data theft, malware penetration, and other cyberattacks. Thus, it is essential to comprehend the dangers of utilizing out-of-date software and how it may affect your security.
Importance of Regular Updates
Keeping your software updated in the modern era of ongoing cyber-attacks is critical. Cybercriminals are constantly searching for methods to take advantage of holes in out-of-date software, which can have disastrous effects on people and companies.
Access to the most recent security updates is another reason why keeping your software updated is crucial. Software developers use Regular updates to handle vulnerabilities in their products, which they are always trying to find and fix. You are losing out on these essential security precautions and making yourself vulnerable to assaults if you don't upgrade your software.
Risks of Using Outdated Systems
Several concerns and cybersecurity risks are associated with using old operating systems, including compatibility problems, security flaws, sluggish system performance, and potential legal repercussions. Maintaining the most recent versions of your operating systems is essential if you want to take advantage of the best compatibility, performance, and security updates.
Compatibility Problems
The possibility that an out-of-date operating system won't work with new hardware and software is one of the most significant performance hazards.
Slow System Performance
Older operating systems can slow down a system's performance by creating sluggish application launches, slow boot times, and overall slow performance.
Limited Security
Because they might have a few recent security updates and patches, outdated operating systems are thus more susceptible to security threats.
Breach of Contract
You can violate agreements with suppliers, partners, or clients if you use antiquated operating systems.
Insufficient Employee Training
When you think about cybersecurity, you picture state-of-the-art technological instruments that protect corporate data from external threats. However, the actual danger might be more straightforward than most businesses think: simple human error.
People are to blame for more than 80% of all corporate data breaches, per a new analysis published on the cybersecurity resource portal SANS.
However, SANS senior instructor Lance Spitzner believes the fault shouldn't solely be blamed on employees. Businesses also have an impact.
Saying that humans are the weakest link suggests that something is their fault, which is why Spitzner dislikes the phrase. "People are the primary attack factor" is a phrase I like to use. Why is that, too? Because our efforts to secure people have yet to be satisfactory.
Importance of Cybersecurity Training
Security awareness training teaches people how to recognize, comprehend, and stay away from online hazards. The goal is to reduce human cyber risk and prevent or mitigate harm to the organization and its stakeholders.
Security Awareness Statistics
Recent figures can shed some light on the state of security awareness. So, get ready for some interesting insights.
The human element was implicated in 70% of data breaches in 2023.
In 2022, a data breach typically costs slightly less than $4.35 million. That is a record high.
In 2020, just 1 in 9 organizations (11%) offered non-cyber employees a cybersecurity awareness program.
Phishing is a factor in 1/3 of data breaches.
A remote worker was the cause of a security breach in 20% of the organizations.
Pretty shocking, right?
The top benefits of providing cyber security training include:
Enhanced Protection
To begin with, the evident, better safeguarding of information is unquestionably the primary benefit of undergoing cybersecurity education.
Increased Productivity
A well-executed security training program can improve productivity by alleviating the fear and uncertainty associated with common online threats. This, in turn, leads to a more capable and confident workforce.
Customer Trust
Clients can trust your company more when everyone works together to improve cybersecurity measures. By strengthening your company's security, customers can feel confident that capable professionals are handling their information.
Real-Life Consequences
With over one cyberattack every 39 seconds and 350,000 new malware threats being released daily, cybersecurity protection of data has become a significant responsibility for CEOs and business owners. Inadequate cybersecurity management procedures may result in any or all of the following:
Data Loss
Weak password management, careless employees, and insufficient end-user protection are among the factors that hackers can successfully breach computer systems.
Downtime
The productivity of a team is reduced due to downtime caused by cyberattacks. For instance, in the event of a malware attack, regular tasks cannot be carried out until the system is fixed and restored.
Noncompliance
Organizations and laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) set the standards for data protection guidelines. These regulations are put in place to ensure compliance.
Third-Party Risks
Customer and organizational data privacy may be jeopardized when goods or services are outsourced to a third party. This is because you expose yourself to cybersecurity risk when you provide third-party vendor access to your information, including sensitive data. Should your third party experience an information security breach due to inadequate measures, it may affect your organization.
Vendor and Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
As their name implies, supply chains are organizational ecosystems that collaborate to accomplish shared goals rather than being discrete organizations.
Modern supply chain partnerships are facilitated and carried out using digital channels, even though the supply chain may be focused on natural resources, utilities, manufacturing parts, services, or retail products.
In the absence of cyber security safeguards, attacks could occur at any supply chain stage. The following are the primary cyber threats that could disrupt or turn off supply chains, in addition to indirect attacks:
Managed Service Exploits
Many businesses use managed services to provide multiple entities simultaneously.
Software Vulnerabilities
Software is the most popular way for cybercriminals to get access to supply chain networks.
Data Breaches
Personal and financial data is often the hidden gem cybercriminals search for.
Managing and Handling Third-Party Risks
Preventing cybersecurity causes and attacks before they happen is the best approach to handling them in your supply chain networks.
Cyber Security Awareness
Create or implement an information security awareness program to inform staff members about typical attack methods and possible entry points within your supply chain.
Updated Information
Irrelevant information is not retained or acted upon by anyone. Create possible situations that demonstrate how cyber-attacks can affect different positions of employees, the entire organization, and partners throughout the supply chain.
Managing Third-Party Risk
More and more supply chain participants are working together to use, transfer, and keep data. To effectively manage this intricate risk environment, enhanced visibility and thoughtfulness are necessary, along with comprehensive management.
Preventing Cybersecurity Causes
There has been an increase in cybersecurity breaches; by 2023, there are predicted to be 15.4 million. While organizations may now easily enhance their security measures due to technological advancements, malevolent hackers are now utilizing sophisticated technologies. One way to prevent cybersecurity threats and causes is to craft and enforce a robust cybersecurity policy.
Further Reading: What is the best security system for your computer?
Robust Cybersecurity Policies
Your company's cybersecurity is significantly impacted by the rules you have in place. Are any measures implemented to avoid and detect data breaches within your organization? How often does your IT team conduct penetration testing or risk evaluations? Your rules are where it all begins: preventing cybersecurity causes!
Crafting Comprehensive Policies
The following are the fundamental elements of every cybersecurity policy:
Realistic Goals
A defined mission and attainable goals are essential components of any cybersecurity policy.
Application and Scope
Clearly stating the application and scope of your security policy is crucial.
Disaster Recovery
During a breach, a disaster recovery strategy ensures that your IT and staff teams are well-informed and equipped to handle the situation.
Access Control
This policy lowers the possibility of unwanted access by outlining who has access to sensitive data.
Security Testing
The frequency of your cybersecurity tests should be specified in the policy.
Incident Response Plan
The incident response plan documents the procedures and actions that should occur during a breach.
Enforcing Policies Across the Organization
When it comes to implementing policies, bear in mind that employees are rarely able to pay attention and process information from multi-page PDFs because they are so busy with their daily responsibilities. Maintaining as short and easy-to-read policies as possible would be excellent advice for organizations. By doing this, they can increase the likelihood that their staff members will be adequately educated.
How Prismware Helps
With Prismware, a Microsoft-licensed security solution provider, you can see all system modifications and interactions involving your sensitive data. Our experienced team enables you to manage access by deleting unnecessary permissions, categorizing sensitive material, and examining user and object behavior to prevent cybersecurity causes. It always ensures the utmost security of your sensitive data.
If you want to see how Prismware can help protect you from cyber-attacks, tackle cybersecurity threats, and prevent cybersecurity causes.