Orange Cyberdefense’s Security Navigator 2024 report reveals an intricate cybersecurity landscape marked by a surge in cyber extortion, politically driven hacktivism and threats. Notably, hacking emerged as the leading threat action, accounting for nearly a third of confirmed incidents.
The report also highlighted that the manufacturing sector was the most susceptible to these threats. Cyber extortion attacks have seen a record increase, with large enterprises being the most targeted. Additionally, hacktivist activities have intensified, largely influenced by geopolitical events such as the war against Ukraine. The report underscores the importance of understanding these evolving cyber threats.
- The Security Navigator 2024 report reveals that hacking is the most prominent threat action, accounting for almost a third of confirmed security incidents.
- The Cyber Extortion threat landscape is evolving quickly, with the number of Cyber Extortion victims globally increasing by 46% in 2023.
- There has been an increase in hacktivist activity, particularly in support of political or social causes, with Europe being the most impacted region.
Navigating the Unpredictable Landscape of Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity remains at the forefront of our ever-evolving digital landscape, and it’s no secret that the stakes have never been higher. The recently unveiled Security Navigator 2024 report sheds light on the complex and fluctuating world of cybersecurity, amplified by geopolitical, economic, and social dimensions.
A Surge in Cyber Threats
The report reveals a 30% rise in processed events by Threat Detection teams, reaching a staggering 129,395 events. Out of these, 25,076, or roughly 19%, were confirmed security incidents. ‘Hacking’ continues to dominate as the most common threat, accounting for nearly a third of confirmed incidents (30.32%). This is followed by Misuse (16.61%) and Malware (12.98%).
Interestingly, while the volume of events has increased, the actual number of confirmed incidents has decreased by 14% year-on-year. This could hint at more sophisticated detection methods and proactive cybersecurity measures being implemented by organisations.
High-Risk Sectors and Geopolitical Dimensions
The Manufacturing sector stands out as the highest contributor to confirmed incidents, accounting for 32.43%. This is followed by Retail Trade (21.73%) and Professional, Scientific, and Technological Services (9.84%).
The report touches on the geopolitical aspects of cybersecurity as well, revealing an increase in Cyber Extortion (ransomware) victims worldwide and a surge in Hacktivism linked to the war against Ukraine.
“Together, with our customers, we are pursuing an unwavering policy of awareness and support for our increasingly interconnected world. We are adapting to new technologies and preparing for new threat actors by continuing to anticipate, detect and contain attacks when they emerge,”
Record Highs in Cyber Extortion
The numbers are clear; the Cyber Extortion threat landscape is evolving at an unprecedented rate. The past year saw a 46% increase in global Cyber Extortion victims, marking the highest numbers ever recorded. Large enterprises bore the brunt of these attacks, representing 40% of victims, but small and medium-sized businesses were not far behind, making up a combined 48% of all victims.
Hacktivism as a Powerful Political Tool
The report also notes a significant increase in hacktivist activity supporting political or social causes. Notably, attacks from hacktivist groups involved in the war against Ukraine have reached record-high levels. Most of these attacks were Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, with some hacktivist groups boasting strong DDoS capabilities.
Hacking Continues to Dominate
Despite the rise in other forms of cyber threats, hacking remains the most detected type of security incident. Accounting for 30.32% of confirmed incidents, hacking’s prominence has increased from last year’s 25%.
Final Thoughts
The Security Navigator 2024 report paints a vivid, albeit alarming, picture of the current state of cybersecurity. With threats evolving and escalating, it is imperative that organisations remain vigilant and proactive in their cybersecurity efforts. With the right strategies and partnerships in place, we can navigate this unpredictable landscape and fortify our digital defences. Remember, awareness and preparation are our strongest weapons in the fight against cyber threats.
FAQ
Q: What is the Security Navigator 2024 report?
A: The Security Navigator 2024 report is an annual security research report launched by Orange Cyberdefense. It gathers, cross-references, and analyzes data from various sources to provide a comprehensive view of the world of cybersecurity.
Q: How many events did Orange Cyberdefense’s Threat Detection teams process?
A: Orange Cyberdefense’s Threat Detection teams processed a total of 129,395 events across the period covered by the report.
Q: What are the most prominent threat actions identified in the report?
A: The most prominent threat action identified in the report is ‘Hacking’, accounting for almost a third of confirmed security incidents. ‘Misuse’ and ‘Malware’ are the second and third most prominent threat actions, respectively.
Q: Which sector has the highest number of confirmed incidents?
A: The Manufacturing sector has the highest number of confirmed incidents, accounting for 32.43% of the total. Retail Trade and Professional, Scientific and Technological Services are the second and third sectors with the highest number of confirmed incidents.
Q: How has cyber extortion (ransomware) evolved globally?
A: The report reveals that cyber extortion cases have increased by 46% globally, marking the highest numbers ever recorded. Large enterprises are the most targeted victims, accounting for 40% of attacks. Small organizations make up a quarter of all victims, followed by medium-sized businesses with a share of 23%.
Q: Which countries have the highest number of cyber extortion victims?
A: Large, English-speaking economies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada account for the highest number of cyber extortion victims. However, there is a noticeable increase in victims from India, Oceania, and Africa.
Q: How long do cyber extortion groups typically exist?
A: The report indicates that over half of the cyber extortion groups have a lifespan of up to 6 months. 21% of groups last between 7-12 months, and only 10% make it to the age of 13-18 months.
Q: What is the impact of hacktivism in the cybersecurity landscape?
A: Hacktivism, which involves politically or socially motivated attacks, has seen a significant increase in activity. The report highlights a record-high level of hacktivist attacks related to the war against Ukraine, with Europe being the most impacted region.
Q: What are the most detected types of security incidents?
A: The most detected type of security incident is ‘Hacking’, followed by ‘Misuse’ and ‘Malware’. ‘Error’ and ‘Social’ incidents complete the top five.
Q: What is the efficiency difference between mature and new clients?
A: The report states that mature, established clients have a detection efficiency that can be four times higher than that of new clients. This efficiency is linked to the frequency of feedback from clients and their ability to act on the incidents raised by Orange Cyberdefense.
Q: How can organizations benefit from the Security Navigator 2024 report?
A: The report provides valuable insights and findings across the cybersecurity sector, helping organizations understand the threat landscape and reduce their risk of exposure. It can be downloaded from the provided link.
