Concern for digital security has become a priority for companies in all sectors, mainly due to the increasing number of cyberattacks. For this reason, we have prepared this article to discuss digital security in the first quarter of 2024 and all the factors that can impact your organization and the data it stores.
First and foremost, it's crucial to understand the role of digital security within your company. The advancement of digital transformation has made cybersecurity a priority for organizations , as a way to combat the numerous cyber scams and threats that are gaining increasing traction.
Companies depend almost entirely on technological tools, and a large part of business is conducted with the help of the internet . In this sense, it has become necessary to adopt resources that help protect information and keep the applications used daily more secure.
Overview of Digital Security in the country
The emergence of the General Data Protection Law (LGPD) has revealed several shortcomings that companies commit regarding the protection of third-party information that is stored and collected by them, making it necessary to adopt adaptation measures to guarantee the protection of this information . However, simply complying with the LGPD is not enough; it is the company's responsibility to adopt a proactive and preventive stance regarding cyber threats.
Digital security refers to a set of strategies, techniques, and methods aimed at protecting the devices, networks, and technological resources used by companies. The main objective is to prevent the actions of cybercriminals and keep stored information protected against unauthorized access .
For this reason, investing in cybersecurity has gone from being just a protocol to becoming essential within organizations, allowing companies to secure a competitive edge in the market and stand out from their competitors . There is an expectation of digital security from consumers, and companies need to prepare to meet this demand.
Ensuring digital security within a company today requires considering five fundamental aspects:
- Access monitoring;
- Safety guidance;
- Data encryption;
- Backup strategy;
- Software update.
Based on a solid strategy, companies increase protection and avoid most cyberattacks , which cause significant losses today. In this sense, companies are becoming increasingly concerned with protecting their information.
However, it is still concerning how prominently cyberattacks have grown in recent years . It is essential to seek strategies and tools that help organizations protect themselves against the actions of cybercriminals .
Digital Security in the first quarter of 2024
The growth in cyberattacks over the past few years is worrying. A recent report from CheckPoint Research showed that Brazil experienced a 38% increase compared to the same period in 2023, highlighting the high demand for technological resources that help keep companies more secure.
This report conducted intensive research in the digital security sector for the first three months of 2024, demonstrating that there were 2,202 attacks weekly. In terms of the number of attacks, Brazil ranked third on the list of countries with the highest incidence of cyberattacks , behind only Colombia, which suffered 2,484 attacks, and Mexico with 2,296.
Data such as this demonstrates how Brazil is in an unfavorable position compared to other countries that invest in cybersecurity . The advancement of technology with the growth of the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence also plays a fundamental role in this process, creating points of vulnerability that are increasingly exploited by cybercriminals.
Top cyberattacks of 2024
This substantial increase in the number of cyberattacks in the first quarter of 2024 is reflected in the latest news on digital security. Below are three cyber threats that have had a major impact on the market:
Apple
At the beginning of April, Apple notified its users about the risk of a highly sophisticated cyberattack . Due to the risk of their personal data being viewed by spyware, the tech giant notified users in 92 countries about the imminent risk of exposure.
Muddling Meerkat – China
According to data from Infoblox , in recent days a cybercriminal in China has been discovered improperly monitoring the system by sending a large number of DNS queries through open DNS resolvers. However, because this is a very recent discovery, it has not yet been possible to determine the cybercriminal's true objective.
Federal Police raid
On April 17th, there was an alleged intrusion into the Federal Police's systems , which forced the change of access passwords for employees and caused the suspension of the appointment scheduling service for passport issuance. This intrusion had a major impact on the agency's services, which has been working to restore normalcy.
Sectors that suffered the most cyberattacks in 2024
As we know, cyberattacks don't have a specific focus on any particular sector, but they can increase in the face of specific vulnerabilities or data needs . An example of this is that in the first quarter of 2024 there was a significant increase in some specific sectors.
According to research conducted by Check Point Research , there was a 28% increase in the average number of cyberattacks per organization worldwide, with a 37% growth in attacks targeting hardware vendors and manufacturers.
Due to the current socio-political reality and the large amount of stored information, the Government, Armed Forces, and Health sectors remain the main targets of cyberattacks. The same applies to the education and research sector.
The education and research sector suffered an average of 2,454 attacks per organization per week, leading the sectors most targeted by cybercriminals, followed by the government and armed forces sector, with 1,692 weekly attacks.
However, the real concern lies in the significant increase in cyberattacks targeting the hardware supplier sector, mainly due to technological advancements and the implementation of new technologies in the market.
However, the major concern lies in the significant increase in cyberattacks targeting the hardware vendor sector , mainly due to technological advancements and the implementation of new technologies in the market.
According to a report by Trend Micro , malware campaigns from 2019 to 2023 primarily targeted the industrial, governmental, healthcare, education, and banking sectors, ensuring a significant impact on the market.
Although the last few years have shown a considerable drop in ransomware attacks ( from 1 billion records in 2016 to 14 million in 2023 ), this threat is still a major concern. This decrease demonstrates that the attacks have become more sophisticated and targeted.
The research also revealed a 28% increase in cyberattacks worldwide , while at the national level this increase was 38%. Check out the 3 sectors that suffered the most cyber threats, according to data from Check Point Research :
- Education/Research: 2,454 attacks per organization per week
- Government/Armed Forces: 1,692 attacks per organization per week;
- Health: 1,605 attacks per organization per week.
The situation is worrying and requires immediate attention from organizations. The study reveals that one in 44 companies worldwide suffers at least one ransomware attack per week.
The 2022 Official Cybercrime Report , conducted by Cybersecurity Ventures, indicates that cyberattacks worldwide could cost up to US$10.5 trillion annually by 2025. This information highlights the importance of digital security for organizations.
Ransomware attacks continue to grow in 2024
Ransomware attacks remain a major concern in the market. This approach, which seizes information and demands a ransom payment for its return, has victimized companies in various sectors, causing substantial losses.
In the first quarter of 2024, North America accounted for 59% of reported attacks, while Europe saw a 64% increase in the number of attacks carried out . Of these attacks, approximately 4% targeted Latin America, primarily directed at the communications industry (with a 177% increase).
Digital security must be a priority, considering the national average of 1,155 weekly attacks per organization and the average of 2,200 attacks in Brazil. Therefore, it is important to adopt urgent measures to protect information and ensure a secure digital environment so that companies can perform their tasks and store their data safely.
The main cyberattack threats in 2024
As we have seen in this material, the growth of cyberattacks is a major current concern. Given the substantial increase observed in the first quarter of 2024, it is crucial that companies adopt solutions and resources to remain protected.
In this sense, we first need to understand the main approaches that can harm a business's applications, networks, and devices. The entire strategy for ensuring greater data security within a company refers not only to the tools used and the knowledge of employees, but also to careful observation of the market and the actions implemented by cybercriminals.
Below are the main cyberattack threats for 2024:
Malicious use of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence, constantly evolving, is one of the most talked-about technologies in recent years. While it offers unprecedented conveniences and resources, it can also be used maliciously by cybercriminals .
In addition to brute-force attacks , where various password combinations are tested to access networks and devices, it is necessary to be concerned about threats that mimic human behavior . That is, cybercriminals use technology to imitate faces, produce photos and videos, inducing users to trust their content and access attempts.
New forms of ransomware attacks are becoming more targeted and damaging
Ransomware attacks are already quite damaging, but cybercriminals are becoming more selective in their choice of victims. Currently, they are targeting organizations that are more profitable or more likely to pay the ransom.
This means that cybercriminals thoroughly examine the organization before attacking, possibly using other strategies to collect confidential data, such as phishing . Therefore, it is essential to protect yourself against all forms of threats that could harm your business.
Worldwide adoption of Automated Transfer Systems (ATS)
The global adoption of A2A transfer systems is facilitating the actions of cybercriminals, who are carrying out mass financial transactions. With the help of banking malware that enables fraudulent transactions, cybercriminals can easily access banking applications .
Although only a few Brazilian malware programs utilize mobile ATS, the trend is for attacks of this type to gain visibility due to the high financial returns they can provide.
Open-source backdoor packages
Open-source backdoor packages refer to open-source software that has been modified to include a backdoor, or secret access point. This access point is used by cybercriminals to gain control of a company's network or system, allowing access without risk of detection .
Through this strategy, cybercriminals are able to collect confidential information, execute malware, infect devices, and carry out all their malicious activities without the company noticing . This is one of the main threats for 2024, making it extremely important to adopt access monitoring tools that help identify these malicious behaviors.
Digital security is a constantly evolving battlefield
Given that threats are constantly evolving to target their victims in increasingly intelligent ways, your company's cybersecurity strategy must also evolve . It's crucial to stay informed about key market changes and find ways to update your business's protection strategy to avoid these problems.
We need to confront increasingly sophisticated threats and intelligent resources that can operate undetected. Therefore, a proactive and preventative approach is crucial to your organization's protection strategy.
It is crucial that managers and those responsible for the technology sector of their company understand the extreme need to adopt smarter and more sophisticated resources to protect information and keep cybercriminals away from confidential data. In this sense, a thorough research on the tools available on the market is essential.
How to protect your company from cyberattacks in 2024?
First, it is necessary to go through a process of awareness and change in the company culture. It is the responsibility of everyone involved to adopt a preventive approach to digital behavior to avoid problems that can be caused by vulnerabilities present in the virtual environment. In this sense, we can mention updating the resources and tools used by the organization, ensuring that they are prepared to deal with the latest threats and remain protected at all times .
Implementing an internet access policy can also make all the difference in improving employee behavior in the virtual environment. To complement the effectiveness of this policy, you can adopt an internet access control that helps monitor not only user behavior but also prevent indiscriminate access to unnecessary resources.
For this, you can rely on comprehensive tools to help your company stay more protected. This tool should be compatible with your company's needs and have all the resources to provide a complete and effective approach against cybercriminals .
For companies seeking to ensure greater security in their digital space and keep their data away from cybercriminals, internet access control can be the solution. With the help of this tool, it's possible to more efficiently monitor user access and block access to harmful content, acting preventively.
