Staying safe online means that individuals and organizations need to be able to adapt to how the threats are constantly changing. Cybercriminals alter their methods to stay ahead of law enforcement and to keep Internet users guessing, according to tech executive Thierry LeVasseur. Keeping businesses and accounts safe is now more important than ever. Cyber attacks can come in different forms, with the two most popular ones targeting emails through spam or phishing. The sophisticated methods of hackers have made it difficult to tell the difference between a legitimate email and one that is not.
Here are some important statistics to know for 2019:
On average, there are 230,000 new malwares that are created each day. Malware that targets mobile devices has been increased by three times between 2017 and 2018. As more and more users use their smart phones or tablets, they will continue to make attractive targets for cybercriminals.
Statistics have shown that a cyber attack that succeeds can cost over $5 million for the organization. In addition, damages around cybercrime are expected to reach $6 trillion by 2021.
According to the FBI, there are over 4,000 ransomware attacks attempted each day. Those attacks are expected to increase to an attack on businesses every 14 seconds by the end of 2019.
When it comes to emails, it has been reported that individuals open about 30 percent of phishing emails sent and 12 percent of those people click on the suspicious links or attachments.
What to expect in 2019
Experts have predicted that things will only get more complicated on the cybersecurity front through the New Year. Here are the things you should be prepared for over the coming year and beyond.
- Cybercrime is expected to reach $6 trillion each year by 2021. Given that in 2015 it was only drawing in $3 trillion.
- Spending cybersecurity tactics will reach $1 trillion over the next three years.
- Damages from ransomware attacks alone will grow at a phenomenal rate of 57 times.
Stay safe
When it comes to preventing a cyber attack there are a few ways to increase your chances, according to Thierry LeVasseur. These include:
- Use encryption on all incoming and outgoing emails
- Employ artificial intelligence surveillance on emails to detect suspicious links or attachments
- Educate employees on safety measures and company policies