Stonesoft Predicts the Top Security Threats for 2013

Stonesoft predicts that the world will experience more unseen and unknown targeted cyber-attacks, espionage, and hacking in the coming year.

  • Dec 20, 2012

With 2013 just around the corner, IT security experts reflect on what has been and predict what is yet to come. Below are network security vendor Stonesoft’s top six predictions around the threats that we will be seeing in 2013.

“I believe in 2013 the security of the digital world will become even more dominant. It is a security trend, which is growing rapidly at the moment, and its importance will just continue to grow in the future,” says Jarno Limnell, director of cyber-security at Stonesoft. “This means there is also an increasing need and pressure to think about international norms, rules and regulations.”

With over 20 years of experience in network security, Stonesoft’s predicts:

1. The world will experience more targeted cyber-attacks. The development of highly sophisticated malware by state-sponsored organizations has the potential to radically affect the speed at which the wider threat landscape evolves. Cyber threats will become more unpredictable than ever before.

2. Espionage by nation-states will continue to rise. In 2012, botnets and malware silently sent the whole contents of the user’s hard drive to a control machine. This will continue to be a problem in 2013. The protection of critical national infrastructure will continue to be an extremely important aspect of cyber security.

3. Hacking will grow and become increasingly relevant and dreaded ­ in particular; it will become more aggressive and its means and impact will become more powerful. At the same time, the role of non-nation players will become more important, particularly in respect to expertise, not just resources.

4. We will see even more advanced evasions techniques (AETs) being used against organizations and governments. As security technologies and the overall capability to catch cyber criminals and hackers improve, they will invest their R&D resources in developing increasingly sophisticated and stealthy attack delivery technologies to improve their ROI. The most worrying part of this is that current security technologies are not capable of stopping AETs and the targets will remain unaware that they have been attacked.

5. In 2012, there were a lot of vulnerabilities in closed source enterprise applications such as Oracle, SAP and SCADA. These applications contain business critical data and are highly valuable targets for intruders. This will continue to be a problem in 2013.

6. Hackers will continue to target Android. The platform provides an attractive environment for malware, and hackers will take advantage of this. It is likely we will see the first global consumer brand go bankrupt as a consequence of a cyber-attack that ruins its reputation and customer confidence.

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.