Going into 2024, cybercrime stays one of the biggest threats on the internet. Overall, it’s expected to cost $8 trillion in 2024 alone.
Plus, the number of attacks has been increasing rapidly. Today, 1 in 10 people become identity theft victims annually, including more than 1 million children, according to Hari Ravichandran’s new book, Intelligent Safety.
The bottom line? Defending yourself is more crucial than ever.
To help you, we’ve rounded up the biggest internet security trends for 2024.
Adopting Zero Trust Policies
To start with, one of the most important internet security trends is a new approach to trust. Adopting zero-trust policies is high up on the agenda.
A zero-trust policy is pretty much what it says on the tin. It requires users to continuously authenticate and confirm their credentials, and to change these regularly. Only then can they access a local or cloud-based network.
For businesses, that means setting up stricter password standards as well as authentication and validation procedures.
For individuals, it means activating two-factor authentication (2FA), regularly changing your passwords, and being prepared to enter your credentials more frequently rather than staying logged in indefinitely.
Defending Collaboration Tools from Cybercrime
Next up in our list of major 2024 internet security trends, team collaboration tools are set to become a prime target for cyber criminals.
Since the pandemic, remote and hybrid work have become a staple in most workplaces. For most teams, collaboration tools are essential to manage tasks, share files, and communicate.
Going into 2024, they’re also major targets for cybercriminals.
In particular, phishing attacks impersonating tools like Zoom and Slack have been proliferating. Hackers will send emails to team members asking them to sign in to their accounts or complete an urgent task, threatening to lock them out if they don’t.
Once they share their credentials, though, they’ll soon be confronted with ransom demands.
To avoid this, businesses need to raise awareness among their teams. And if you see an urgent mail from a team collaboration tool in your inbox, take a moment to double-check it before you click on any links.
Mitigating IoT Vulnerabilities
Over the past few years, the Internet of Things has seen astronomical development. More and more appliances are connected, saving people time and helping them streamline workflows and avoid data siloing.
However, cybersecurity for IoT has been lagging behind, leaving many components vulnerable to hackers.
In particular, experts predict that hackers will be increasingly using deepfakes to bypass biometric authentication using voiceprints and facial recognition.
For both business and individual users, that means it’s a priority to secure their accounts and devices using additional authentication steps, such as passcodes and 2FA.
Leveraging AI
Talking about deepfakes, AI in general will become increasingly important for both cyber criminals and those trying to defend against them.
Already, hackers are leveraging AI to launch ever more sophisticated attacks. In response, cybersecurity providers are harnessing similar algorithms to improve their defenses.
To keep yourself protected, make sure that your cybersecurity provider is keeping up and integrating the latest AI and machine learning algorithms into their systems. If you’re in doubt, keep your eyes out for more advanced alternatives.
Leveling Up Cloud Security
Finally, one major internet security trend for 2024 will be cloud security. Since the pandemic especially, many applications, software platforms, and data storage systems have migrated to the cloud.
For hackers, this is a massive opportunity for commandeering data and cashing in on ransoms.
To safeguard your data, check that your Cloud Service Providers (CSP) use high-standard security protocols and that you have your interfaces properly configured. Also, password discipline is a crucial component of cloud security. Changing credentials regularly and implementing 2FA are vital to keeping your cloud data safe.
These Are the Internet Security Trends to Watch Out For
Changes and trends in cybersecurity are fast-paced and ever-evolving. As a result, staying up with the latest developments is crucial to protecting yourself against cyberattacks.
By keeping an eye on the internet security trends above, you’ll be able to maximize your online safety and leave hackers gnashing their teeth in frustration.
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