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According to IBM, the global average cost of a data breach in 2023 was USD 4.45 million, a 15% increase over 3 years. It is not only crucial for businesses to ensure they have a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, but that they stay abreast of emerging technology threats that can lead to potentially business disruption and harm.
Technology is evolving at a rapid pace, bringing new opportunities and challenges for businesses and individuals alike. However, not all technology is benign. Some innovations can pose serious threats to our digital security, privacy, and safety.
In this article, we’ll highlight some emerging technology threats to be aware of in 2024 as well as protective measures you can put in place to safeguard your business and users.
Data Poisoning Attacks
Data poisoning attacks are a type of cyberattack that aim to compromise the integrity and quality of the data used to train or run an AI system. By injecting malicious or erroneous data into the data pipeline, attackers can manipulate the behavior or performance of the AI system, or cause it to produce inaccurate or biased results. For example, data poisoning attacks can be used to sabotage the spam detection or facial recognition systems of a competitor, or to influence the recommendations or decisions of an AI agent.
Businesses can safeguard against data poisoning attacks by adopting various measures, such as:
- Implementing robust data validation and verification processes to ensure the data is accurate, consistent, and relevant for the intended purpose.
- Applying encryption and authentication techniques to protect the data from unauthorized access or modification during transmission or storage.
- Performing regular audits and backups of the data to detect and recover from any tampering or corruption.
- Using anomaly detection and outlier analysis to identify and remove any suspicious or abnormal data points from the data set.
- Leveraging trusted and reputable data sources and providers, and avoiding data sharing or aggregation with unverified or unknown parties.
- Educating and training the staff and users on the potential risks and best practices of data security and quality management.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Manipulation
AI manipulation is the malicious use of artificial intelligence to influence or deceive human beings or automated systems. AI manipulation differs from data poisoning attacks in that the latter aims to corrupt the training data or model parameters of a machine learning system, while the former targets the outputs or behaviors of an AI system to achieve a desired outcome. For example, data poisoning attacks can compromise the accuracy or reliability of a facial recognition system, while AI manipulation can exploit the vulnerabilities or biases of a facial recognition system to evade detection or impersonate someone else.
Some protective measures that you can put in place to safeguard your business from AI manipulation are:
- Verifying the sources and quality of the data and models that you use for your AI applications, and ensuring that they are not tampered with or compromised by malicious actors.
- Implementing robust security and privacy policies and practices for your AI systems, such as encryption, authentication, access control, auditing, and anomaly detection.
- Educating your employees and customers about the potential risks and benefits of using AI, and providing them with tools and guidelines to identify and report suspicious or fraudulent activities involving AI.
- Monitoring and testing your AI systems regularly to check their performance and integrity, and updating them as needed to address new threats or challenges.
- Collaborating with other stakeholders, such as industry peers, regulators, researchers, or civil society groups, to share best practices and standards for ethical and responsible use of AI, and to promote transparency and accountability in AI development and deployment.
5G Network Vulnerabilities
5G is the latest generation of wireless network technology that promises faster speeds, lower latency, and higher capacity for data transmission. However, 5G also introduces new security challenges and vulnerabilities that could expose businesses to cyberattacks, data breaches, or espionage. Some 5G network vulnerabilities include an increased attack surface, dependency on third-party vendors, and a lack of encryption and authentication.
5G networks rely on a complex architecture of interconnected devices, applications, and services, which creates more entry points and opportunities for attackers to exploit. For example, 5G networks use software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) to dynamically allocate and manage network resources, but these technologies also increase the risk of misconfiguration, tampering, or unauthorized access.
5G networks depend on a variety of vendors and suppliers to provide the hardware, software, and services that enable the network functionality. This creates a challenge for ensuring the security and integrity of the supply chain, as well as the compatibility and interoperability of the different components. Moreover, some vendors may pose a national security threat or have links to malicious actors, raising concerns about the potential for backdoors, sabotage, or surveillance.
5G networks use a new radio interface called New Radio (NR), which enables faster and more efficient data transmission. However, NR does not provide end-to-end encryption or authentication for the data, leaving it vulnerable to interception, modification, or spoofing. Additionally, 5G networks use a new core network called 5G Core (5GC), which separates the control plane and the user plane, allowing for more flexibility and scalability. However, this also exposes the control plane to external attacks, which could compromise the network functionality or availability.
Some measures you can implement to protect your business from 5G network vulnerabilities include:
- Adopting a zero-trust approach. Businesses should assume that no device, application, or service on the 5G network is trustworthy, and implement strict policies and controls to verify and monitor the identity, behavior, and status of every network element. This includes using multi-factor authentication, encryption, segmentation, firewall, and anomaly detection techniques to prevent unauthorized access or malicious activity on the network.
- Conducting regular risk assessments and audits of their 5G network infrastructure, components, and processes, to identify and mitigate any potential vulnerabilities or threats. This includes reviewing the security and compliance standards of the vendors and suppliers, performing penetration testing and vulnerability scanning, and updating the network configuration and software as needed.
- Educating and training the staff and users about the security risks and best practices of using 5G networks, and providing them with clear guidelines and protocols to follow in case of incidents or emergencies. This includes raising awareness of the common types of cyberattacks and how to avoid or report them, such as phishing, ransomware, denial-of-service, or man-in-the-middle attacks.
Quantum Computing Vulnerabilities
Quantum computing vulnerabilities are the potential threats posed by the emergence of powerful quantum computers that can break the encryption and security protocols of classical computing systems.
Some examples of quantum computing vulnerabilities are:
- Shor’s algorithm, which can factor large numbers and break the public-key cryptography used for secure data transmission and authentication.
- Grover’s algorithm, which can search through unsorted databases and break the symmetric-key cryptography used for data encryption and decryption.
- Quantum machine learning, which can exploit quantum correlations and entanglement to learn from complex and noisy data and potentially reveal sensitive information or manipulate outcomes.
Some protective measures that you can implement to safeguard your business from quantum computing vulnerabilities are:
- Adopting quantum-resistant cryptography, which uses mathematical problems that are hard to solve even for quantum computers, such as lattice-based, code-based, hash-based, or multivariate-based cryptography.
- Developing quantum-proof protocols, which use quantum mechanical properties to achieve secure communication and computation, such as quantum key distribution, quantum secure direct communication, or quantum oblivious transfer.
- Investing in quantum computing research and development, which can help you understand the capabilities and limitations of quantum technologies, and design solutions that can leverage the advantages of quantum computing while mitigating the risks.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) Exploits
AR and VR technologies offer immersive experiences. But they also present new vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals might exploit these platforms to deceive users, leading to real-world consequences. Ensuring the security of AR and VR applications is crucial. Especially to prevent user manipulation and privacy breaches. This is very true in sectors like gaming, education, and healthcare.
Some possible ways that cybercriminals might exploit AR and VR platforms to deceive users are:
- Creating fake or malicious AR and VR applications that trick users into downloading malware, ransomware, spyware, or phishing software, or that steal their personal or financial information, such as passwords, credit card details, or identity documents.
- Hacking or spoofing the AR and VR devices, networks, or servers, and altering the content or functionality of the applications, such as inserting false or misleading information, advertisements, or images, or manipulating the sensory feedback or navigation systems.
- Abusing the social and interactive features of AR and VR, such as impersonating or harassing other users, recording or broadcasting their activities without their consent, or invading their privacy or personal space.
- Using AR and VR to facilitate or conceal other types of cybercrime, such as identity theft, fraud, extortion, or cyberterrorism, by creating false or altered identities, scenarios, or evidence, or by hiding their location or identity.
These cyberattacks could have serious real-world consequences for the users, such as financial losses, identity theft, legal issues, physical injuries, mental health problems, or social isolation. To protect your users and business against these risks, you can implement some of the following measures:
- Use reputable and secure AR and VR platforms and applications, and update them regularly.
- Install antivirus and firewall software on your devices, and scan them for malware or viruses frequently.
- Use strong and unique passwords for your accounts, and change them periodically.
- Do not share your personal or financial information with anyone online, and avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments.
- Verify the identity and credibility of the sources, content, and feedback you encounter in AR and VR environments, and report any suspicious or abusive activity.
- Ensure privacy policies and guidelines are in place around the use of the technology which defines illegal and unethical behaviour.
- Educate users about the potential risks and benefits of AR and VR, and how to use them safely and responsibly.
Evolving Ransomware Threats
Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts data and demands a ransom for its decryption. In recent years, the tactics of threat actors have evolved in the following ways:
- They have increased the sophistication and scale of attacks, targeting large organizations and critical infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools, and pipelines, and demanding higher ransoms.
- They are exploiting the vulnerabilities and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as remote work, online education, and increased reliance on digital services, to launch phishing campaigns and infect devices and networks.
- They are adopting the double-extortion technique, where the attackers not only encrypt the data, but also threaten to expose it publicly or sell it to other hackers if the ransom is not paid.
- They are forming alliances and partnerships among different ransomware groups, sharing resources, tools, and techniques. They have also created a ransomware-as-a-service model, where attackers offer their services to other criminals for a fee.
Some protective measures that can be put in place to safeguard your business and users from ransomware are:
- Implementing regular backups of your data and systems, and storing them offline or in a separate location, so that you can restore them in case of an attack.
- Updating and patching your software and hardware regularly, to fix any security flaws and prevent exploitation by hackers.
- Educating and training your employees and users on how to recognize and avoid phishing emails, suspicious links, and attachments, and how to report any incidents or anomalies.
- Using antivirus and firewall software, and enabling encryption and multi-factor authentication, to protect your devices and networks from unauthorized access or modification.
- Developing and testing a ransomware response plan, that outlines the roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders, the communication channels, and the recovery procedures, in case of an attack.
Biometric Data Vulnerability
Biometric data are physical or behavioral characteristics that can be used to identify individuals, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans, voice prints, or gait analysis. Biometric data vulnerabilities are the risks of biometric data being compromised, stolen, or misused by malicious actors or unauthorised parties. Some examples of biometric data vulnerabilities are:
- Spoofing – creating fake biometric samples, such as fingerprints or face masks, to impersonate someone else and bypass biometric security systems.
- Presentation attacks – presenting altered or manipulated biometric samples, such as photoshopped images or voice recordings, to deceive biometric security systems.
- Replay attacks – capturing and replaying biometric samples, such as video clips or audio files, to trick biometric security systems into granting access or performing actions.
- Tampering – modifying or destroying biometric samples, such as cutting or burning fingerprints or faces, to prevent biometric security systems from working properly or identifying individuals.
- Breach – acessing or leaking biometric data stored in databases or devices, such as hacking or phishing, to exploit or expose the personal information or identity of individuals.
Some protective measures businesses can put in place to safeguard against compromised, stolen, or misused biometric data are:
- Using multi-factor authentication, such as combining biometric data with passwords, PINs, or tokens, to increase the security and reliability of biometric systems.
- Implementing liveness detection, such as checking for blood flow, eye movement, or facial expressions, to prevent spoofing and presentation attacks.
- Encrypting and hashing biometric data, such as using cryptographic algorithms or one-way functions, to protect biometric data from being read or modified by unauthorized parties.
- Applying privacy-preserving techniques, such as anonymization, pseudonymization, or differential privacy, to reduce the identifiability and sensitivity of biometric data.
- Following the principles of data minimization, purpose limitation, and consent, such as collecting, storing, and using biometric data only for legitimate and specific purposes, and obtaining the informed and explicit consent of individuals.
Advanced Phishing Attacks
Phishing is a form of cyberattack that involves sending deceptive emails or messages to trick recipients into divulging sensitive information, clicking on malicious links or attachments, or performing actions that compromise their security or privacy.
Phishig attacks are the most common form of cyberattacks and over the years, they have becoming more sophisticated and targeted as attackers use various techniques to bypass spam filters, impersonate legitimate senders, spoof domains and web pages, and exploit social engineering tactics to manipulate their victims. Some phishing attacks also use artificial intelligence (AI) to generate convincing and personalized messages, analyze the behavior and preferences of the targets, or create realistic voice or video simulations.
Vishing is a variant of phishing that uses voice communication, such as phone calls or voice messages, to deceive the targets. Vishing attacks can leverage caller ID spoofing, voice cloning, or interactive voice response systems to appear more convincing and authoritative. Vishing attacks can also take advantage of the urgency, emotion, or confusion that may arise from a voice interaction, especially if the attacker pretends to be someone the target trusts or fears, such as a bank employee, a government official, or a law enforcement agent.
Some measures you can take to safeguard your business from phishing and vishing attacks include:
- Educating yourself and your employees about the common signs and indicators of phishing and vishing attacks, such as spelling or grammar errors, mismatched sender names and addresses, generic or impersonal salutations, requests for personal or financial information, threats or incentives to act quickly, or unusual or unexpected attachments or links.
- Reporting and deleting any suspicious or fraudulent messages, and alerting your IT department, security team, or relevant authorities if you suspect or experience a phishing or vishing attack.
- Verifying the identity and legitimacy of any communication that asks for sensitive information or action, such as calling back the sender using a known number, checking the email headers or web addresses for anomalies, or contacting the supposed source through another channel.
- Implementing strong security and cybersecurity policies and practices, such as using multi-factor authentication, encryption, antivirus software, firewalls, spam filters, and regular backups, to protect your data and systems from unauthorized access or damage.