Concern about digital security has become a priority for companies in all sectors, mainly due to the growing number of cyber attacks. For this reason, we prepared this article to discuss digital security in the first quarter of 2024 and all the factors that may impact your organization and the data stored by it.
Firstly, it is essential to understand the role of digital security within your company. The advancement of digital transformation has placed cybersecurity as a priority within organizations , as a way to combat the numerous scams and cyber threats that are gaining more and more space.
Companies depend almost entirely on technological tools, and a large part of business is carried out with the help of the internet . In this sense, it was necessary to adopt resources that help protect information and keep applications used on a daily basis safer.
Panorama Digital Security in the country
The emergence of the General Data Protection Law demonstrated several failures that companies commit in protecting third-party information that is stored and collected by them, making it necessary to adopt adaptation measures to guarantee the protection of this information . However, just adapting to the LGPD is not enough, and it is the company's responsibility to adopt a proactive and preventive stance regarding cyber threats.
Digital security refers to a set of strategies, techniques and methods aimed at protecting devices, networks and technological resources used by companies. The main objective is to prevent the actions of cybercriminals and keep stored information protected from unauthorized access .
For this reason, investing in cybersecurity is no longer just a protocol but has become essential within organizations, allowing companies to secure a competitive space in the market and stand out from their competitors . There is an expectation of digital security from consumers, and companies need to prepare to meet this demand.
Ensuring digital security within a company currently takes five fundamental aspects into consideration, namely:
- Access monitoring;
- Security guidance;
- Data encryption;
- Backup strategy;
- Software updates.
Based on a solid strategy, companies increase protection and avoid most cyber attacks , which cause great losses today. In this sense, companies are increasingly concerned about protecting their information.
However, it is still worrying how cyberattacks have seen prominent growth in recent years . It is essential to seek strategies and tools that help organizations protect against the actions of cybercriminals .
Digital Security in the 1st quarter of 2024
The growth that cyber attacks have shown over the last few years is worrying. A recent report from the company CheckPoint Research showed that Brazil showed growth of 38% compared to the same period in 2023, highlighting the great demand for technological resources that help keep companies more protected.
This report carried out intense research in the digital security sector for the first three months of 2024, demonstrating that there were 2,202 attacks weekly. In terms of number of attacks, Brazil ranked third on the list of countries with the highest incidence of cyber attacks , behind only Colombia, which suffered 2,484 attacks, and Mexico, with 2,296.
Data like this demonstrates how Brazil is in an unfavorable position in relation to other countries that invest in cybersecurity . The advancement of technology with the growth of the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence also plays a fundamental role in this process, creating points of vulnerability that are increasingly exploited by cybercriminals.
Top cyber attacks of 2024
This substantial increase in the number of cyber attacks in the first quarter of 2024 is reflected in the latest news about digital security. Below are three cyber threats that have had a major impact on the market:
Apple
At the beginning of April, Apple notified its users about the risk of a highly sophisticated cyber attack . With the risk of their personal data being viewed by spyware, the technology giant notified its users in 92 countries about the imminent risk of exposure.
Muddling Meerkat – China
According to data from Infoblox , in recent days the action of a cybercriminal in China was discovered who improperly monitors sending a large number of DNS queries through open DNS resolvers. However, as this is a very recent discovery, it has not yet been possible to determine the cybercriminal's real objective.
Federal Police Invasion
On 17/04, there was an alleged invasion of the Federal Police systems , which forced the exchange of server access passwords and caused the suspension of the scheduling service for issuing passports. This invasion had a major impact on the agency's services, which has been working to restore normality.
Sectors that suffered the most cyber attacks in 2024
As we know, cyber attacks do not have a specific focus on a certain sector, but can increase in response to specific vulnerabilities or data needs . An example of this is that in the first quarter of 2024 there was a significant increase in some specific sectors.
According to research carried out by Check Point Research , there was a 28% increase in the average number of cyber attacks per organization worldwide, with a 37% increase in attacks targeting hardware suppliers and manufacturers.
Due to the current sociopolitical reality and the large amount of stored information, the Government, Armed Forces and Health sectors remain the main targets of cyber attacks. The same applies to the education and research sector.
The education and research sector suffered an average of 2,454 attacks per organization per week, leading the sectors most targeted by cybercriminals, followed by the government and Armed Forces sector, with 1,692 weekly attacks.
However, the major concern is, in reality, the significant increase in cyber attacks aimed at the hardware supplier sector, mainly due to technological advances and the implementation of new technologies in the market.
However, the major concern lies in the significant increase in cyber attacks targeting the hardware supplier sector , mainly due to technological advancement and the implementation of new technologies in the market.
According to a Trend Micro report , malware campaigns from 2019 to 2023 were primarily focused on the industrial, government, healthcare, education, and banking sectors, ensuring a significant impact on the market.
Although recent years have seen a considerable drop in ransomware attacks ( from 1 billion records in 2016 to 14 million in 2023 ), this threat is still a cause for great concern. This drop demonstrates that attacks have become more sophisticated and targeted.
The research also revealed a 28% increase in cyber attacks worldwide , while at a national level this increase was 38%. Check out the 3 sectors that suffered the most cyber threats, according to data from Check Point Research :
- Education/Research: 2,454 attacks per organization per week,
- Government/Armed Forces: 1,692 attacks per organization per week;
- Health: 1,605 attacks per organization per week.
The situation is worrying and requires immediate attention from organizations. The study reveals that one in every 44 companies in the world suffers at least one ransomware attack per week.
The 2022 Official Cybercrime Report , carried out by Cybersecurity Ventures, points out that cyber attacks worldwide could cost up to US$10.5 trillion annually by 2025. This information highlights the importance of digital security for organizations.
Ransomware attacks continue to grow in 2024
Ransomware attacks are still a major concern in the market. This approach, which kidnaps information and demands the payment of a ransom for its return, has claimed victims in companies from different segments, causing substantial losses.
In the first quarter of 2024, North America concentrated 59% of published attacks, while Europe showed a 64% growth in the number of attacks carried out . Of these attacks, approximately 4% focused on Latin America, mainly targeting the communications industry (with an increase of 177%).
Digital security must be a priority, considering the national average of 1,155 weekly attacks per organization and the average of 2,200 attacks in Brazil. Given this, it is important to adopt urgent measures to protect information and ensure a safe digital environment so that companies can perform their tasks and store their data safely.
The main cyber attack threats in 2024
As we have seen in this material, the growth of cyber attacks is a major current concern. Given the substantial increase observed in the first quarter of 2024, it is essential that companies adopt solutions and resources to remain protected.
In this sense, a business's applications The entire strategy to ensure greater data security within a company refers not only to the tools used and the knowledge presented by employees, but also to careful observation of the market and the actions that are implemented by cybercriminals.
See below what are the main cyber attack threats in 2024:
Malicious use of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence, constantly evolving, is one of the most talked about technologies in recent years. Despite bringing unprecedented facilities and resources, it can also be used maliciously by cybercriminals .
In addition to brute force attacks , where different password combinations are tested to access networks and devices, it is necessary to be concerned about threats that imitate human behavior . In other words, cybercriminals use technology to imitate faces, produce photos and videos, inducing users to trust their content and access attempts.
New forms of more targeted and damaging ransomware attacks
Ransomware attacks are already harmful enough, but cybercriminals are becoming more selective in their choice of victims. Currently, they seek out organizations that are more profitable or more likely to pay the ransom.
This means that cybercriminals thoroughly examine the organization before attacking, possibly using other strategies to collect sensitive data, such as phishing . Therefore, it is essential to protect yourself against all forms of threats that could harm your business.
Worldwide Adoption of Automated Transfer Systems (ATS)
The worldwide adoption of A2A transfer systems is favoring the action of cybercriminals, who carry out mass financial transactions. With the help of banking malware that allows improper transactions, cybercriminals easily access banking applications .
Although only some Brazilian malware uses mobile ATS, the tendency is for attacks of this type to gain visibility due to the high financial returns they can provide.
Open Source Backdoor Packages
Open source Backdoor packages refer to open source software that is transformed to include a Backdoor, that is, a secret access door. This gateway is used by cybercriminals to gain control of a company's network or system, allowing access without risk of detection .
Through this strategy, cybercriminals are able to collect confidential information, execute malware, contaminate devices and carry out all their malicious activities without the company noticing . This is one of the main threats for 2024, and it is extremely important to adopt an access monitoring tool that helps identify these malicious behaviors.
Digital security is a constantly evolving battlefield
Considering that there are threats that transform every day to target their victims in an increasingly intelligent way, your company's cybersecurity strategy must also evolve . It is essential to stay aware of the main changes in the market and find ways to update your business's protection strategy to avoid these problems.
We need to face increasingly sophisticated threats and intelligent resources that can act without being detected. Therefore, a proactive and preventive approach is crucial to your organization's protection strategy.
It is essential that managers and those responsible for your company's technology sector understand the extreme need to adopt more intelligent and sophisticated resources to protect information and keep cybercriminals away from confidential data. In this sense, complete research into the tools available on the market is essential.
How to protect your company from cyber attacks in 2024?
Firstly, it is necessary to go through a process of awareness and change in the company's culture. It is the responsibility of everyone involved to adopt a preventive approach to digital behavior to avoid problems that may be caused by vulnerabilities present in the virtual environment. In this sense, we can mention updating the resources and tools used by the organization, ensuring that they are prepared to deal with the latest threats and always remain protected .
Implementing an internet access policy can also make all the difference in improving employee behavior in the virtual environment. To complement the effectiveness of this policy, you can adopt an internet access control that helps monitor not only user behavior but also prevent indiscriminate access to unnecessary resources.
To do this, you can count on complete tools to help your company stay more protected. This tool must be compatible with your company's needs and have all the resources to provide a complete and effective approach against cybercriminals .
For companies looking to ensure more security in their digital space and keep their data away from cybercriminals, internet access control can be the solution. With the help of this tool, it is possible to more efficiently monitor access made by users and also block access to content considered harmful, acting preventively.
