AUGUST 20168FIVE CYBER SECURITY TRENDS By Vincent Weafer, Sr. Vice President, McAfee LabsHeadquartered in Santa Clara, McAfee, a part of Intel Security is indulged into developing proactive and proven security solutions and services to protect systems, networks and mobile devices, and make security an essential ingredient with innovative approach to hardware-enhancement security and unique Global Threat Intelligence.As we pass into the second half of 2016, I have taken time to review the devel-opments of the first six months.The exercise reveals an ever-evolving threat landscape, where enterprises continue to develop stronger security defenses and policies, and attackers respond by innovating, adapting and increasingly targeting users through their own weak security practices. We also observed the `cybercrime-as-a-service' ecosystem innovate and leverage the marketplaces of the Dark Web to sell new threats to the least sophisticated malicious actors in cyberspace.I have identified five key trends from the first six months of the year:Ransomware Goes PublicWe have long viewed ransomware as a potentially lucrative practice among cyber criminals, but the first half of 2016 reinforced this view as ransomware attacks rose into the headlines on a regular basis. After slowing slightly in mid-2015, ransomware regained its rapid growth rate. According to the June 2016 McAfee Labs Threats Report, new ransomware grew 26 percent quarter-over-quarter in the fourth quarter of that year. In the first quarter of 2016, new ransomware samples rose 24 percent, as lucrative returns continued to draw relatively low-skilled criminals.Open-source ransomware code and `ransomware-as-a-service' offerings sold on the Dark Web continue to make it easier for less technically savvy criminals to launch attacks. This availability of hacking talent, tools, and infrastructure have enabled more criminals to adopt exploit kits and launch more attacks. Furthermore, the ability to accept ransom payments directly from victims allows cybercriminals to easily `cash out' and quickly realize profits.An October 2015 analysis of the CryptoWall 3 ransomware hinted at the financial scale of such campaigns. Cyber Threat Alliance researchers linked just one campaign's operations to $325 million in victim ransom payments.Mobile Threats Grow & EvolveMobile malware continued its relentless growth, with infection rates steadily climbing over the past 18 months, approaching 10 percent of all reporting devices. In just the first quarter of 2016, new mobile malware samples grew 17 percent quarter over quarter, with total mobile malware samples growing 23 percent quarter over quarter and 113 percent over the last four quarters.IN MY OPINIONVincent Weafer
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