There have been a few high profile hacks lately including the well-publicised Sony attack allegedly from North Korea and the interruption of the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live online gaming networks over Christmas.
Unfortunately cybercrime can strike anywhere and we can only provide the best defences we have.
ESET, a global provider of security solutions, has highlighted the areas it thinks will be targeted in 2015.
In 2014 it was all about internet privacy and malware for Android smartphones and tablets.
But in 2015 there are three areas ESET believes may be besieged by hackers – digital payment systems, targeted attacks and connected smart home devices.
As online payment systems become more popular they also become bigger targets for cyber criminals.
2014 saw the largest known digital payment attack with a hacker reaping $US600,000 in Bitcoin virtual currency using a network of infected machines.
There have also been brute force attacks in an attempt to access password-protected accounts so having a strong and unique password is a must.
Targeted attacks, also known as Advanced Persistent Threats (APT), will become even more sophisticated in 2015, according to ESET.
These are designed to silently target victims and hold them to ransom to perform certain actions or revealing confidential information.
A term you’ll hear a lot in 2015 will be The Internet of Things – the idea of connecting all our devices to make our homes smarter.
We’re already seeing this with smart TVs, smart appliances and other smart devices connected in our wi-fi networks and controlled with our smartphones and tablets.
But this has become an emerging space for hackers as they attempt to gain access to devices inside our homes that might store data or other personal information.
“As more consumers and devices connect to the internet, the risk of cybercrime is also increasing,” said Parvinder Walia, Sales Director for APAC at ESET.
“It’s vital that we remain vigilant and continue to take proactive measures to secure our data and online activities.
“With the right security solutions in place, it’s possible to stay protected and feel confident online.”
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
