Where do cybersecurity threats come from? Well, there are numerous threat actors causing cybersecurity incidents. If it was just me, then it would probably be my friend, wanting to make fun of my stuff. However, for big companies, it’s not that funny at all. So, let’s take a look at the many sources of cybersecurity threats in today’s world.
Hostile Nation-States
National cyber warfare programs present rising cyber threats. It ranges from propaganda, website defacement, espionage, disruption of key infrastructure to loss of life.
Of course, government-sponsored programs are frequently sophisticated and pose advanced threats when compared to other threat actors.
Yes, they have the capability to damage the national security of many countries. Also, the damage may be in-effect long-term.
Moreover, hostile nation-states pose the most powerful risk. Why? It is because of their ability to completely use technology and tools against the most difficult targets.
These targets may be classified networks and crucial infrastructures like electricity grids and gas control valves. It doesn’t matter to threat actors like hostile nation-states.
Terrorist Groups
Well, there’s no denying that terrorist groups are frequently using cyberattacks to damage national interests.
However, they are less advanced in cyber-attacks compared to nation-states. And have a lower capacity to attempt cyber means.
But, with the techy-competent generation slowly joining their group, it’s likely that they’ll pose a great threat.
Corporate Spies And Organized Crime Organizations
These threat actors pose a risk due to their capacity to administer industrial espionage. They are able to take trade secrets or large-scale financial theft.
Holistically, their attention is on profit-based activities. For instance, making a profit or disrupting a business’s capability to make a profit. They’d do it by striking the key infrastructure of competitors and stealing trade secrets. Or, they are able to gain entree and blackmail material.
Hacktivists
Hacktivists’ pursuits reach across political ideas and concerns. For example, most hacktivist groups are involved with spreading propaganda rather than degrading infrastructure or disrupting services.
Moreover, their goal is to raise their political agenda rather than cause supreme destruction to an organization.
Disgruntled Insiders
They are a usual source of cybercrime. The way they work is often won’t involve a high degree of computer knowledge. Instead, they’ll make use of their access to the data.
Moreover, insider threats also include third-party vendors. Also, employees may accidentally inject malware into systems.
Hackers
The most common threat actors we know. Malicious thieves could take advantage of a zero-day exploit to gain unauthorized access to data.
Yes, hackers may occur into information systems for a challenge or bragging rights. Unfortunately, it’s much easier to hack today unlike before. You can download automated attack scripts and protocols to make hacking that simpler.
Natural Disasters
Natural disasters serve as a cyber threat because they can interrupt your important infrastructure just like a cyber attack could.
Accidental Actions Of Authorized Users
Yes, there are times when an authorized user may forget to correctly configure S3 security. Because of human nature, it can cause a potential data leak.
For the record, some of the most significant data breaches have been made by poor configuration rather than hackers.
