Cybersecurity threats for 2020

Is your business ready to enter the new year?

Cybersecurity threats for 2020 are not new, in fact, most traditional threats are being adapted to target a broader range of devices. The past year (2019) saw many companies fall to hacker’s tricks and suffer data braches with a multitude of effects. Taking a proactive approach towards increasing awareness for tighter cybersecurity in 2020 and making sure companies don’t suffer at the hands of malicious hackers, here are the predictions of cybersecurity threats for 2020 to look out for.

Phishing attacks go beyond email

While phishing attacks are not a new form of cyberattack, they are one of the most effective. Traditionally phishing attacks are emails that replicate a company and con you into providing personal information. This information might include financial or personal information.
Amongst the cybersecurity threats for 2020, phishing attacks will go beyond email. Hackers will be more conniving in their attempts to get your information. Including going through devices such as your mobile phone. For example, phishing attacks will be masked as personal or instant messages. They will expand their distribution methods to hit you via SMS, instant messaging on social channels and even through gaming platforms.

Mobile targets will increase

Mobile phones are a common household item, they come with us everywhere we go and are always in our pockets. With these little devices storing a wealth of personal information, it is no surprise that cybercriminals are narrowing their goals to target mobiles. We will see fake apps and fraudulent transactions listed amongst the cybersecurity threats for 2020.
Hackers will be aiming to get ahold of your personal data, including business data, by creating lookalike apps that request sensitive information. By installing these apps, you are consenting to the hackers stealing your data, including finance and identification information. So, beware of the apps you download and the data you hand over.

Connected systems open doors for hackers

We use a variety of devices in our homes and businesses, and often these devices are connected or ‘talk’ to each other. This interconnection of devices can lead to hackers gaining access to your systems and stealing your personal information. Formerly known as the IoT-based attack, this cyber attack is amongst our list of cybersecurity threats for 2020.

If you are connecting devices such as your mobile, speakers and even appliances, you need to keep a record of which device is linked to what system or network. By doing this, you can more easily pick-up which device is being attacked or targeted. You also need to ensure that you complete regular firmware updates on your devices, this will ensure that your hardware is equipped with the latest security systems.

Don’t enter the new year at a risk!

Be aware of the possible cybersecurity threats for 2020 and take precaution on the web. If you get a message, email or download an app that doesn’t quite seem right, make contact with the respective company and confirm the details being asked for are in fact coming from the company itself. We also highly recommend that you keep all devices up to par with the latest software updates. In doing this, you are upgrading the security on your device and making it harder for hackers to get into.

The end of the year is also a great time to do a cleanse, even for your hardware! Our team at DSA Connect can help you remove all the unwanted data from IT equipment, current and old. So, don’t leave your business at risk of cybersecurity threats for 2020. Remove any risk of unwanted, unused or old data being accessed by the wrong people. Take action now to keep yourself safe in 2020. Contact our team to discuss data destruction, data erasure, hard drive shredding and end of life it services.