Think that cyber crooks are only interested in giant megaconglomerates and Fortune 500s with piles of cash? It’s tempting to think so – after all, that’s where the moolah is.
But if that’s what you believe, you may want to think twice.
Recent reports have shown that cyber criminals are casting a large net, targeting everyone from mom-and-pop shops to hospitals, hotel chains and everything in between. And they’re using a massive army of zombified internet-connected devices called “botnets” to do it.
Botnets, a term you have heard of in hacker movies or the latest CSI episode, represent a formidable threat in the real world. These are networks of hijacked devices, commandeered by digital deviants to serve their unsavory purposes. From grandma’s personal computer to the seemingly benign smart appliances in your home, no gadget is immune to this takeover.
A startling recent report highlights an alarming surge in botnet activities, with instances where over a million devices were compromised in nefarious operations at one time — an escalation to levels previously unheard of.
Typically, botnet activities hover around 10,000 devices per day, with previous peaks clocking in at 20,000. Yet, in a dramatic turn of events, these numbers have skyrocketed, reaching highs of 143,957 devices in a single day. But it didn’t stop there – the worst attack on record blew past the staggering one million mark in a single attack on January 5, surpassing a number previously thought to be a worst-case scenario.
What’s the point of all this? These botnets scour the internet, probing for vulnerabilities in websites, servers, and email infrastructures, akin to burglars casing the neighborhood and looking for people on vacation.
So, what’s the call to action for businesses and individuals alike? Fortifying your digital assets isn’t something you should have on your to do list. It’s something you must do. This involves keeping software and systems up to date, installing robust firewall and antivirus solutions, educating your team on cybersecurity protocols, employing strong and unique passwords, backing up data diligently, monitoring network activities for anomalies, and possibly, engaging cybersecurity specialists (like us) to bolster your defenses.
Understanding the evolution of cyber threats is crucial. The reality is stark — no one is too small or too obscure for cyber criminals. The question then is not if, but when and how you will take action to safeguard your business.
If you need help getting your business better protected, get in touch.
