Recently Kaspersky lab has outlined the key security trends this year and predicted the core threats for 2013. According to Kaspersky Lab, the important cyber security stories of 2012 are:
- Sophisticated malware targeting Mac OS X
- Explosive growth of Android threats
- Flame and Gauss as the sign of continued state-sponsored cyber warfare operations
- Notable password leaks from popular web services, such as LinkedIn and Dropbox
- Theft of Adobe certificates
- New 0-day vulnerabilities in Java and other popular software
- Attacks on network devices (namely DSL routers)
- DNSChanger shutdown
- Destructive Shamoon and Wiper malwares
- Madi cyber-espionage campaign
The most notable predictions for the next year include the continued rise of targeted attacks, cyber-espionage and nation-state cyber-attacks, the evolving role of hacktivism, the development of controversial “legal” surveillance tools and the increase in cyber-criminal attacks targeting cloud-based services. Kaspersky Lab predicted the following threats for 2013:
- Continued rise of targeted attacks
- Ongoing march of “hacktivism”
- More nation-state sponsored cyber-attacks
- Government-backed use of “legal” surveillance tools in cyberspace
- Attacks on cloud-based infrastructure
- Deterioration of digital privacy
- Continued problems with online trust and digital authorities
- Continued rise of Mac OS X malware and mobile malware
- Vulnerabilities and exploits continue to be key attack methods for cyber-criminals
- Wide deployment of Ransomware and cryptoextortion malware
by Terry Brown
