Cyber Security

Mandiant Shares Cybersecurity Predictions for 2022

Published

3 years ago

November 24, 2021

Mandiant has released its predictions report – 14 Cyber Security Predictions for 2022 and Beyond.
“The only constant in our industry is the uncertainty in the cyber realm. Attackers keep evolving – getting more sophisticated and changing their tactics, techniques and procedures to try get one up on the defenders,” said Gordon Love, VP MEA at Mandiant. “This report provides security leaders with an overview of what to expect in 2022 and beyond, based on the trends we see now. Organisations have a lot to keep in mind for next year, but remaining vigilant will enable them to defend against upcoming threats—and respond to those that inevitably get through.”

The top cyber security threats identified in the report include:

No end in sight for Ransomware
The ransomware threat has grown significantly throughout the past decade, and it will continue its upward trend. The business of ransomware is simply too lucrative unless international governments and technology innovations can fundamentally alter the attacker cost-benefit calculation.

Threat actors engaged in multifaceted extortion will continue to find more ways to extort payments from their victims. In 2022 Mandiant expects to see actors ramp up new tactics, such as trying to recruit insiders within their victims or targets. More cybercriminals are expected to evolve as threat actors become more business savvy and learn what kind of situations their victims most want to avoid.

Focus on Operation Technology (OT)
Throughout 2021, Mandiant observed low sophistication threat actors learn that they could create big impacts in the OT space—perhaps even bigger than intended. Actors will continue to explore the OT space in 2022 and increasingly use ransomware in their attacks.

Attacks against critical OT environments can cause severe disruption and even threaten human lives, thereby increasing the pressure for organizations to pay a ransom. To compound the issue, many of these OT devices are not built with security at the forefront of the design, and there is a massive uptick in the number of vulnerabilities being identified in OT environments.

Iran to continue their aggressive stance
Iran will use its cyber tools in a much more aggressive manner to promote regional interests. Iran will also continue to target Israel and others in the Middle East. They’ve shown their capability and willingness to use destructive malware, so they are expected to take advantage of any presented opportunities. Ultimately, Iran will try to create more of a power balance shifted to its own interests. Mandiant has seen them targeting abroad, but their targeting will most likely be regional throughout 2022.

Afghanistan events may trigger espionage
With the assertion of Taliban control and departure of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, one can expect further cyber espionage and information operations. The usual information operations actors—Iran, China, Russia—are expected to push narratives to support their interests through the end of 2021 and into 2022. They’ll also play up negative perceptions around the events, notably the perception that the U.S. failed to live up to its commitments to organizations and countries.

Cloud and third parties introduce new chokepoints
Organizations will continue to increasingly rely on the cloud and cloud-hosted third-party providers for primary business tasks, putting more pressure on those third parties to maintain both availability and security. The proportion of Mandiant incident response investigations involving cloud resources has grown over the past several years, and they anticipate that cloud compromise and abuse will continue to grow in tandem with enterprise cloud adoption throughout 2022.

More internet of things (IoT) devices, more vulnerabilities, more attack surface
As the number of IoT devices grow, so will the number of vulnerabilities for bug hunters to track. These devices are connected, and the general attack surface expands with the potential for profound impact. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been enough emphasis on security in fundamental IoT device design to fix these issues, so the situation will only get worse in the years to come.

As we move into 2022, CISOs have a lot on their mind and remaining vigilant will enable them to defend against upcoming threats—and respond to those that inevitably get through.

Cyber Security

AmiViz Champions Cybersecurity Innovation at Leading MENA Events

Published

14 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Prarthana Mary

AmiViz has announced its successful participation in two key regional cybersecurity conferences: MENA ISC 2024 in Saudi Arabia, and CYSEC UAE 2024 in the UAE. These events have served as a platform for AmiViz to collaborate with its top vendors, including Bitsight, Cequence Security, Picus Security, AlgoSec, BlackBerry, Check Point, Tenable, Asimily, and Threatcop, to showcase cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies and solutions.

Throughout these events, AmiViz engaged deeply with partners and customers, gaining invaluable insights into the unique cybersecurity challenges faced in the region. The focus was on promoting new technologies that address these challenges and enhance security protocols for businesses operating in the dynamic Middle Eastern market.

“Our presence at the MENA ISC 2024, and CYSEC UAE 2024 has been a remarkable opportunity for us to not only present our innovative solutions but also to understand firsthand the needs and pain points of our clients,” stated Ilyas Mohammed, COO at AmiViz. “Collaboration with our key vendors has allowed us to offer a comprehensive suite of cybersecurity products and services that cater specifically to the complexities of this region.”

AmiViz’s participation in these events underscores its commitment to advancing cybersecurity readiness and resilience across the Middle East. By leveraging strategic partnerships with leading global vendors, AmiViz continues to bring state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions to the forefront, helping businesses protect their critical assets against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

AmiViz, along with its key vendors, will continue participating in major tech events, with plans for a strong presence at GITEX next month. Following GITEX, the company is gearing up for Black Hat in Saudi Arabia this November, showcasing its cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions to the region.

Cyber Security

UAE and Saudi Arabia Face Unprecedented 70% Rise in Threats: Positive Technologies

Published

2 days ago

September 18, 2024

Prarthana Mary

Positive Technologies experts have unveiled comprehensive research on the shadow market of cybercriminal services targeting the Gulf countries. The UAE and Saudi Arabian organizations remain in the crosshairs of cybercriminals, and over half of all posts on darknet forums are about selling data and access to local companies’ infrastructures. Researchers have highlighted a sharp increase in the free distribution of such data on the dark web, along with a surge in reports of DDoS attacks targeting the public sector and other industries. One in five ads analyzed was related to buying or selling access, with two-thirds available for under $1,000.

According to the research, cybercriminals remain focused on the two largest economies in the region—the UAE (40% of all posts) and Saudi Arabia (26%). The spotlight on darknet forums is on the public sector, which accounted for 21% of all analyzed posts. Most of the data (63%) related to regional government institutions was published for free as part of hacktivist attacks. Next in line for most popular on the dark web are commerce (16% of all ads), the service sector (15%), and financial institutions (13%).

Amid geopolitical tensions, hacker groups have ramped up calls for DDoS attacks and breaches to disrupt government institutions in the region. In the first half of 2024, the number of reports on the results of DDoS attacks on the dark web surged by 70% compared to the same period in 2023. Beyond the public sector, hacktivists also targeted the financial and transportation sectors.

According to the research, 33% of all the analyzed ads were linked to data breaches. One-third of these messages were about selling information. In these ads, criminals primarily offered databases stolen from major commerce companies, with an average cost of $2,300.

Positive Technologies analyst Anastasiya Chursina commented, “When compared to our previous research over a similar period, the share of freely distributed data almost doubled (up to 59%). This allows criminals to broaden the profiles of potential victims for targeted attacks. If the victim refuses to pay the ransom, both ransomware groups, as well as hacktivists (whose goal is to draw public attention to a political stance rather than just receive financial gain), can distribute data for free.”

Accessing company information resources is the second most common type of dark web ads, making up 21% of all listings. According to the research, in 70% of all cases, access can be bought for less than $1,000. The vast amount of access-for-sale ads on the darknet and their low cost make it easier for cybercriminals to gain initial access and launch attacks on organizations in the region.

Positive Technologies recommends that companies build their defences based on result-driven cybersecurity, using modern tools such as application-level firewalls, including cloud versions, network traffic analysis systems, solutions for monitoring information security events and managing incidents, as well as metaproducts.

Cyber Security

BotGuard OÜ to Offer Live Demos at GITEX GLOBAL 2024

Published

2 days ago

September 18, 2024

Chris Fernando

BotGuard OÜ will present its intuitive, user-friendly cybersecurity solution at GITEX GLOBAL 2024, focusing on effective bot protection. Live demonstrations in Hall 25 stand H25-21 will showcase the ease and efficiency of the technology in securing websites against malicious attacks. “Our participation in GITEX GLOBAL 2024 underscores our commitment to addressing the escalating malicious bot attacks faced by organizations worldwide,” said Bertil Brendeke, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) of BotGuard OÜ. “At GITEX, we aim to engage with industry leaders and stakeholders, sharing our expertise and practical technologies that can help fortify their defences.”

In 2023, 17% of API attacks involved bad bots exploiting business logic vulnerabilities. For hosting companies, such vulnerabilities can lead to unauthorised access to sensitive customer data or control over hosting resources, further emphasizing the need for reliable security protocols and regular audits of their systems. “BotGuard OÜ’s solutions are designed to address these exact challenges, enabling businesses to safeguard their digital assets. The technology is incredibly easy to use, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes,” the company said.

By participating in GITEX GLOBAL 2024, BotGuard OÜ aims to expand its reach in the Middle East, providing local businesses with the tools they need to combat cyber threats effectively. During the event, live demonstrations in Hall 25 stand H25-21 will showcase how their website protection can be set up within a minute. These demonstrations will highlight the efficiency and effectiveness of BotGuard’s solutions.