Recent Advances in Cybersecurity Technology for a Safer World

Did you know that there’s a hacking attack every 39 seconds? Modern companies rely extensively on their cyber capabilities, often to the point that they’re incapable of operating without them. In 2024 it has been estimated that within the next 12 months, the global cost of cybercrime will exceed $10.9 trillion.

With malware such as ransomware on the rise that has the potential to bankrupt entire companies, companies are finally starting to take their cybersecurity technology seriously. Individuals are also realising that they might be targeted as well. 

Thankfully, recent cybersecurity advances mean that you can take many different measures to keep your company or your household safe from cybercriminals. This article lists some of the latest advances in cybersecurity that will lead to a safer, more protected world. 

1. Blockchain

You probably know blockchain as the technology that powers cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. Did you know that this technology has much wider security applications as well?

Blockchain is essentially a digital ledger that can be used to verify identities. It’s basically impossible to trick a blockchain network into thinking you’re someone who you’re not.

This is why cryptocurrency like Bitcoin is trusted and stable. The nature of blockchain means it’s impossible to fabricate transactions. Companies are starting to look into new ways to use this technology to keep their organisations secure. 

2. Automated Data Backups

One of the biggest cyber threats faced by companies in recent years has been ransomware. Ransomware is when an attacker infects a target computer with malware that encrypts the victim’s files. The attacker then demands a cash payment to unlock the files. 

The trouble is, even if you pay the ransom, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get your files back. In many cases, ransomware doesn’t even have the ability to decrypt your data. 

The only way to defend against this kind of attack is to back up your files. When you have backups in place, you can easily revert back to a previous configuration if you get infected with ransomware. 

How inconvenient this depends on how long ago your last backup was. If you implement an automated backup system, you can simply set it up and forget about it. If you set this up to backup multiple times a day, ransomware isn’t much of a threat. At worse, you’ll lose a few hours of work. 

On the other hand, if you don’t have such a backup system in place, you stand to lose everything. 

3. Two Factor Authentication

If your only layer of security is a password, you’re at risk of getting hacked. No matter how many special characters, numbers, and capital letters you use in your password, you’re still at risk of a breach. 

The solution is to use two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication is when you use the 2nd method to verify your identity after entering your password. 

For example, the most common form of two-factor authentication is when you enter your password and then receive a message on your mobile phone. You then enter the authentication code that you’ve received on your phone to verify your identity. 

This form of authentication works well, as multiple devices need to be compromised for an attacker to get into your account. Unfortunately, an identity theft trick known as sim swap fraud has grown in popularity in recent years. 

This enables attackers to gain access to your phone number. If you want to use a more secure form of two-factor authentication, you can buy an authenticator device. This is even more secure than using a phone as you’re immune to methods like sim swap fraud. 

4. Internet of Things Security

The internet of things is when various household items have an internet connection. For example, your coffee maker might connect to your Wi-Fi network. This could enable you to have it start on a cup of coffee while you’re on the way home. 

You might also have an internet connection in your fridge. This could enable you to remotely check the contents of it. This is useful if you’re in the shops as you can figure out what you need to buy without a shopping list. 

Unfortunately, these devices are often quite insecure. While many people might not see the risk of these kinds of devices being hacked, there are actually some pretty serious security flaws. 

For example, if hackers gain access to your fridge, they might be able to tell if you’ve gone away on vacation. They could then pass this information on to more conventional criminals who could burgle your home. 

Future cybersecurity advances will focus on making these kinds of devices more secure. This will allow businesses and households to use these kinds of items with confidence. 

5. Machine Learning

One of the big problems with anti-virus software is that the developers need to identify malware before protections can be implemented. This means that some people will be infected with viruses. 

Machine learning could change all that. Machine learning could involve AI constantly monitoring the latest cyber threats. It could then automatically implement protection without human intervention. 

This means that protection against viruses could be implemented in a matter of minutes rather than hours. This could be a game-changer as cybercriminals operate by exploiting vulnerabilities as quickly as possible. Machine learning would mean that they have much less of an opportunity to break into systems or infect computers. 

Cybersecurity Technology Is Evolving

The majority of businesses and households are now totally dependent on digital technology. This means that most people are very susceptible to cyber crimes such as identity theft or ransomware. 

Thankfully, cybersecurity technology is starting to catch up to the threats. If you use the latest security techniques, you can significantly lower the risks of being a victim of cybercrime. 

If you want to learn more about securing your digital systems, get in touch with us today through our contact page.