Cyber security concerns for 2014

12 Dec 2013

Trend Micro has released its annual security predictions report, Blurring Boundaries: Trend Micro Security Predictions for 2014 and Beyond.

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The outlook cites that one major data breach will occur every month next year and advanced mobile banking and targeted attacks will accelerate. Critical infrastructure threats, as well as emerging security challenges from the Internet of Everything (IoE) and Deep Web, are also highlighted.

The report parallels Trend Micro's long-term projections in the recently released nine-part online video drama entitled, 2020: The Series, depicting a technology-saturated society and the corresponding cyber threats.

"We see the sophistication of threats expanding at a rapid pace, which will impact on individuals, businesses and governments alike," said Gregory Anderson, country manager of Trend Micro, South Africa.

"From mobile banking vulnerabilities and targeted attacks, to growing privacy concerns and the potential of a major breach each month, 2014 promises to be a prolific year for cybercrime. We will also see the evolution of the IoE, which serves as a prelude to the surge in technological advancements as the decade closes."

Predications for 2014

Prominent predications for 2014 include:

Malicious and high-risk Android apps will reach 3 million;

Banking via mobile devices will be compromised by an uptick of Man-in-the-Middle attacks, making two-step verification inadequate;

Cybercriminals will increasingly use targeted-attack-type methodologies like open-source research and highly customised spear phishing;

Targeted attackers will increasingly use advanced threats, such as clickjacking and watering hole attacks and target mobile devices;

Lack of support for popular software, such as Java 6 and Windows XP, will expose millions of PCs to attack;

Public trust, compromised by revelations of state-sponsored monitoring, will result in a variety of efforts to restore privacy; and

The Deep Web will continue to vex law enforcement's ability to address widespread cybercrime.

The report also focuses on the rise of the IoE, which promises to be the proverbial game changer in personal technology in the years to come. With augmented reality delivered through wearable technology, including watches and eyewear, the possibility of large-scale cybercrime from identity theft by 2020 is a very real possibility as the technology continues to proliferate from 2014 and beyond.

This reality is brought to life in Trend Micro's 2020: The Series, which is based on Project 2020, a white paper developed in collaboration with the International Cyber Security Protection Alliance (ICSPA). The unique series presents a future consumed by technology and seeks to inspire stakeholders to take action now against looming cyber vulnerabilities.