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Nowadays, there’s a new and more sophisticated threat lurking around every corner. In today’s cyber threat landscape, ransomware attacks, malware variants, phishing scams, and other social engineering attacks are increasing in frequency and complexity as emerging threat tactics are on the rise. New developments in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and quantum computing make cybersecurity a harsh reality that is often thought of as not necessary until it’s too late. Here are the top 10 emerging threats you need to face head-on.
The Top 10 Emerging Cyber Threats You Must Prepare For:
- Third-Party Exposure: In cybersecurity, the weakest links are often your third-party connections. Vendors, partners, and suppliers can introduce vulnerabilities, and a breach in their system can compromise the security of your business. To guard against this threat, ensure that they meet your security standards, implement robust access controls, and routinely monitor third-party systems for potential threats.
- IoT Attacks: The explosion of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has introduced new attack vectors for cybercriminals. IoT devices lack robust security measures, making them vulnerable to hijacking and data breaches. To protect against LoT security risks, implement strong authentication, encryption, and regular firmware updates.
- Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks: DDoS attacks overwhelm your servers with a flood of traffic until they buckle under pressure making it unavailable to legitimate users. Investing in robust DDoS protection services that can detect and mitigate attacks in real-time, diversifying your network infrastructure to distribute the load, and implementing redundancy measures so there’s always a backup plan can minimize DoS impact.
- Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks: In a MITM attack, bad actors intercept and may alter the communication between two parties, allowing them to eavesdrop or manipulate data. These attacks can happen in public Wi-Fi networks or unsecured online transactions. Using encrypted communication channels, virtual private networks, and robust authentication measures, while educating users about public network risks, can help mitigate MITM attacks.
- Zero-Day Exploits: Zero-day vulnerabilities are unknown to the software vendor, allowing attackers to exploit them before a patch or fix can be developed. These exploits can be particularly dangerous, as they can go undetected for extended periods. To guard against these attacks, keep your software updated with the latest patches, routinely conduct vulnerability assessments, and use intrusion prevention systems to detect and block suspicious activity.

- State-Sponsored Threats: State-sponsored threats are backed by the resources and expertise of nation-states. These threats target governments, businesses, and infrastructure with sophisticated cyber-attacks aimed at espionage, sabotage, or disruption. Robust incident response plans, advanced threat detection, and collaboration with law enforcement and intelligence agencies are critical for addressing state-sponsored threats.
- Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs): APTs are sophisticated and targeted attacks by well-funded and organized groups, such as nation-states or cybercriminal organizations. These attacks are designed to gain long-term access to a system, allowing the attackers to extract sensitive data or disrupt operations over an extended period. Combating APTs requires advanced threat detection, incident response planning, and continuous monitoring.
- Supply Chain Attacks: Supply chain attacks target the software or hardware supply chain, introducing vulnerabilities or malicious code during the development or distribution process. To mitigate supply chain risks, conduct thorough due diligence when selecting vendors, monitor their security posture, and implement security controls to detect and prevent unauthorized access.
- Drive-By Compromises: Drive-by compromises occur when a user’s system is affected by visiting a compromised website, exploiting vulnerabilities in web browsers or plugins to install malware. To protect against these attacks, keep software and plugins updated, use ad blockers and anti-virus software, and educate employees about safe browsing practices.
- Harvest Now, Decrypt Later (Quantum Computing): With the introduction of quantum computing, traditional encryption methods may become vulnerable. Quantum computers decrypt data that was previously considered secure, exposing sensitive information to bad actors. To mitigate this risk, organizations should adopt quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms and stay informed about quantum computing and its impact on cybersecurity.
For both organizations and individuals, being vigilant and proactive against new cybersecurity risks is no longer a nice-to-have – it’s an absolute necessity. Armed with knowledge and a few cybersecurity tricks up your sleeve, you can defend your digital realm against new tactics that cybercriminals are using to exploit, disrupt, or breach security systems. Bad actors won’t stop. CentraComm can help!