During any period of crisis or uncertainty, criminals have tended to exploit security weaknesses for illicit gain with both greater frequency and efficiency. So far in 2020, the emergency that is the COVID-19 pandemic has been no exception to this, meaning that yes – coronavirus has changed the nature of cyber security threats.
How cyber security threats have developed in 2020
COVID-19 has established a new normal for working life. This includes many individuals now working from home, online business co-ordination, and digital trade or eCommerce becoming the norm, and these are unlikely to go away in full anytime soon. Because of this, the vast majority of businesses all around the world have had to move more resources online, putting greater pressure on their cyber security systems.
That pressure comes from the fact that this has changed cybercriminal activity in two ways:
Larger operating scale – Because it’s an international problem, hacker groups can use the same attacks on a wider range of businesses as more people are operating online (some of which for the first time).
Emotive relevancy – COVID has provided a relatable issue for these scams to target, making businesses arguably more vulnerable to human error, one of the most common factors in data breaches.
The above is reflected in some of the data that’s been released on cyber-attacks in 2020. Many companies have reported receiving millions of spam messages and thousands of pieces of malware have been detected, with most being designed to be relevant to COVID-19.
What should businesses do?
In terms of pure numbers, this rise in attacks follows a trend of growth seen in recent years. However, the targeting of cybercriminal content and the growth of a common audience are perhaps the main arguments for businesses to check their digital security is at full strength. Even simple procedures of remote working, such as online conference calls, can leave a business vulnerable if audio or images are compromised. Thus, companies should begin by reminding their staff of these risks, alongside basic procedures such as antivirus software installation and Effective Password Management.
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