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supply chain attacks, retail, Austin, air conditioning

How your air conditioning could start a cyberattack

  • min read
    • Many big businesses know they could be cybercrime targets and invest in defenses like software and training. That's why cybercriminals are increasingly attacking through smaller suppliers who don't have the same knowledge and resources. It's called a supply chain attack. In Tomorrow Unlocked's second episode in the hacker:HUNTER Behind the Screens series, Eliza-May Austin, CEO and co-founder of th4ts3cur1ty.company (That Security Company,) explains how US retail giant Target was attacked through a most unexpected device – the air conditioning. We ask Austin how businesses can prepare for supply chain attacks and how she thinks things are going for women in cybersecurity careers. In Tomorrow Unlocked's Hacker: HUNTER Behind the Screens video, you talk about the supply chain attack on Target in 2013. Why is this attack so important? Businesses must work with other businesses, which makes us all susceptible to a certain degree of risk. Take an airplane, for example. To go from concept to in the air involves hundreds of businesses, contractors and applications. It takes just one breach to compromise that trusted ecosystem. It's something we should all take seriously. Your business th4ts3cur1ty.company (That Security Company) helps companies large and small harden their supply chains. How do you do that? There are many things businesses can do to defend against supply chain attacks. For example, we run penetration testing, consult on governance, risk and compliance and importantly, logging, monitoring and vulnerability management. Are businesses becoming more aware of supply chain attacks and responding appropriately? I can't confidently say yes, which is why I'm vocal on the issue. I recently asked a small-to-medium company (SMB) that supplies services to the medical sector if they'd considered how an attack would impact their clients' security. I was met with such bemusement you'd think I'd asked for a sandwich. What's the most common problem making businesses vulnerable to supply chain attacks? Not knowing how prevalent it is. But also, some businesses that do understand the issue's scale get overwhelmed by it. These attacks aren't always sophisticated – simple measures can go a long way. How did you get into cybersecurity? I moved from a degree in forensic science to a degree in digital forensics, did some internships and the rest is history. You don't need a degree to be in cybersecurity. Is the industry giving women equal opportunities to enter and succeed yet? I think this industry, like any, is what you make of it. Cybersecurity is a fantastic career choice for women and should be promoted as such. What could employers do today to attract and retain more women? I get asked this a lot, so I wrote 15 ways to attract more women to your technical cybersecurity team. I've included simple, practical things like considering the physical environment. For example, if employees have to crawl around on the floor to plug in a laptop, that may feel degrading when wearing a skirt. I also recommend being more open-minded about what kind of people you need: What is Ladies Hacking Society (LHS) and why did you found it? LHS is an awesome community of women who come together to learn from one another and teach each other hacking. I wanted to create a technical option for women because I found mixed events were not really mixed (mainly men) whereas women's events revolved around governance or high-level theory. It's a lot of fun and a great bunch of people. Which is the most important lesson from your 11 leadership lessons from terrible managers, and why? Lesson 3: A sense of humor matters. People tend to take themselves too seriously. Encouraging people to laugh and joke does wonders for team morale and gets people through stressful times. Let's all calm down and have a giggle.  
chatGPT cybersecurity regulation

With ChatGPT’s vast innovative potential, regulators must take care

  • min read
    • ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot applications are major technological milestones with far-reaching benefits for many industries. But with each advance comes unintended consequences. With ChatGPT in its fourth iteration, and its underlying technologies growing fast, it's time to take stock of the policy landscape to understand its implications. What is ChatGPT, and how are businesses using it? ChatGPT is an AI chatbot made by OpenAI. It uses natural language processing (NLP) to create human-like text responses. Users can ask ChatGPT almost anything and receive relatively natural-sounding responses. It can write outputs like programming code, social media posts, summarize complex topics or almost anything text. ChatGPT is an example of generative AI: Artificial intelligence that learns to generate original content like images, music and text by identifying underlying patterns in existing examples. "Its primary objective is to create interactive and realistic conversations with users, making it a powerful tool for chatbots, virtual assistants and customer support applications," says AWS Solutions Architect Ragu Kuppannan. Many top companies are using ChatGPT. For example, travel outlet Expedia wants customers to be able to book a holiday in a way that feels like having a chat with a travel agent. Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI, says ChatGPT already powers its search engine, Bing, and plans to add it to Word and Excel. ChatGPT could be promising for any application where natural, conversational interaction between people and tech would be beneficial. Risks of ChatGPT Critiques of ChatGPT and other chatbot applications generally focus on its potential to disrupt human employment, produce incorrect information or poor practice in training algorithms to identify harmful content. The underlying cybersecurity risks get less attention. Kaspersky's specialist threat intelligence teams have identified three main risk areas. First, ChatGPT can provide advice, even detailed guides, to help prospective attackers plan and target victims. Second, it can develop code and even create entire coding projects for those with little knowledge of software development. While ChatGPT has restrictions and safeguards to avoid abuse, they're fairly easily bypassed. Third, ChatGPT produces convincing and accurate text that can be used in phishing or spearphishing. To some extent, these three areas represent theoretical risks or outlier scenarios that don't represent how people and businesses usually use ChatGPT. Policy perspective beyond risks Policy should aim to be technology-blind – taking a similar approach to all related technology that might emerge in the future, rather than creating a unique approach for one of today's concerns. It should build the best possible defenses against the worst human intentions and applications. Practically speaking, there may be no way to prevent or limit use of tech like ChatGPT. And to limit an emerging technology's potential means being left behind in a global digital economy. While policy discussions usually focus on outputs – the material ChatGPT produces – its inputs (the data it's trained with) may be a bigger threat. Data-driven tools like ChatGPT are only as good or accurate as their training datasets. As chatbot systems may become the most common way to use the internet, issues will have wide impact. Ensuring balance in training data is a growing challenge as disinformation expands. Bad actors can influence what users see and read in ways that have global consequences. Datasets, devices and systems must be secure and accurate. How nations are regulating AI In our public policy work, Kaspersky advocates public-private partnerships. We think partnerships combining global private-sector expertise with policymakers' local needs will be the best defense. It's a middle-ground approach that avoids too much or too little caution. These partnerships in cybersecurity maximize the advantages of emerging technologies like ChatGPT, while safeguarding against risks. United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a role model for inclusive public-private partnerships. They've taken a progressive and collaborative stance on partnerships with international tech firms. Initiatives and forums like the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and the UAE Cybersecurity Council aim to safely and securely advance technological growth for short- and long-term benefit. In May 2023, Brazil was considering a Bill to regulate AI. It requires "systems [to] undergo a preliminary assessment carried out by the suppliers themselves, to determine whether they can be classified as being of high or excessive risk," according to OneTrust Data Guidance. It also restricts exploitative AI uses, like subliminal techniques that could cause harmful behavior or target vulnerabilities in older and disabled people. The Center for Strategic and International Studies says Japan looked at the European Union's sterner approach to AI regulation and had "concern that the burden of compliance and the ambiguity of regulatory contents may stifle innovation." Instead, Japan is adopting a "human-centered" approach based on seven principles – among them, privacy protection, security and innovation. They regulate AI through several laws. The Digital Platform Transparency Act, for example, requires fair and transparent practice from large online stores and digital advertising businesses, including disclosing how they decide search rankings. Values are the key to balanced regulation ChatGPT and other generative AI fit a model of technological development we've seen throughout history – it disrupts human lives and businesses with exciting potential but also serious risks that need policymakers' attention. UAE, Brazil and Japan have regulatory approaches that are values-led and aim for a middle ground: A balance between too much and too little caution. Alongside, partnerships between the public and private sector hold promise to let business embrace innovation while adequately managing risk.
cybersecurity predictions

What a year of changing cyberthreats can tell business

  • min read
    • For business leaders, knowing what's changing in cybersecurity helps you recruit the right people with the right skills today for what you'll soon need. Kaspersky's 2022 Security Bulletin (free download) analyzes which attacks their global cloud service Kaspersky Security Network (KSN) has detected, blocked and disabled over the past year. There are some numbers your business will want to know about. 15 percent of users had a malware attack Kaspersky Security Network blocked malware-class attacks on some 15 percent of users in 2022, or around 1 in 7. This shows just how common malware is. The malware class of attacks covers familiar cybercrime tools like viruses, trojans and ransomware. The countries where Kaspersky's software blocked the most malware attacks in 2022 were Tunisia, Taiwan and Algeria. 506 million web-based attacks Web-based attacks result from users downloading files that then trigger a cyberattack. These might come from websites made by cybercriminals, infected online resources within user-created content (like online forums) or legitimate resources that cybercriminals have hacked. Cybersecurity education can be a powerful tool in preventing web-based attacks. Heathrow Airport has a novel staff cybersecurity education that carefully targets those needing it most with 10-minute online learning modules. 1.4 million cryptocurrency mining attempts Cryptocurrency mining is very much on the rise. Kaspersky Security Network detected around 1.4 million attempts to install mining software in the past year. Mining means digitally solving complex mathematical problems that verify cryptocurrency transactions, which also earns cryptocurrency. It slows devices and uses much electricity. In November 2022, Kaspersky announced they'd seen a 230 percent growth in cryptocurrency mining in the third quarter of 2022 compared with the same period in the year before. 102 million attempts to visit malicious URLs Malicious URLs are a common tool in 'phishing' attacks – when cybercriminals send emails inducing recipients to click on links, downloading malware. Endpoint security is vital in protecting against phishing, as is employee cyber-awareness. 377,000 attempts to steal money These attacks were often in the form of 'banking Trojans'. In early 2022 a particularly sophisticated money-stealing Trojan popped up that masquerades as a banking app and imitates phone conversations with bank employees. The app fooled many, highlighting the need to teach employees 'cyber hygiene' – like remembering to pause and think before downloading anything. Those who provide legitimate apps or financial services might also reflect on how they can show customers their products are trustworthy. These big numbers in cybersecurity over the past year show how threats to business are growing and changing. Cybercriminals always find new ways to get through consumers' and employees' defenses. By combining hiring the right people with robust cybersecurity education and strong security solutions, your business will greatly reduce its chances of a serious attack succeeding. Then, you can spend your time on what you do best.
cyber future interview

How business can use cyber futurism to see what comes next

  • min read
    • With new technologies like the metaverse arriving regularly, how can business leaders and cybersecurity professionals know what new threats to expect? Futurism – analyzing future scenarios to inform today's decision-making – is one way. Victoria Baines is professor of information technology at UK's Gresham College and a former Facebook executive and Europol officer. She uses future scenarios to understand technology today and how we should prepare for threats to come. We chat about what these scenarios reveal about our world today, what might happen with new technologies like the metaverse and what business can do to keep users safe. Gemma: What does it mean to explore the future of cybersecurity through scenarios? Victoria: Scenarios are not predictions, but if you do them right, they tell you as much about your situation now as what might happen in future. It's not just threats – it's how the world's changed, and what the tipping points may be. The pandemic was a tipping point for remote and hybrid working, but many find hybrid work just means doing all the things, all the time – the expectation they'll be available constantly for online and physical meetings. We'd been working up to that for a long time. Reliance on email was a compelling signal we needed to find something better, quieter, with less churn. I think we'll see something like that with the metaverse. We've now got the ultimate business case for it because Zoom and Teams aren't enough to feel like we're really working with people – we're still just on a call. Futures methodology is as much about exploring our present and spotting things in the past. What have you found out about the metaverse through your cyber futures work? Although there's hype and uncertainty around the metaverse, we have certainties about how it will develop. For example, Apple will probably bring out, or at least announce, a mixed-reality headset next year. However expensive, people want to use whatever Apple brings out. So we'll see people wanting Apple's mixed-reality headset in a way they haven't wanted other virtual reality (VR) headsets like Hololens or Oculus. This will significantly speed up metaverse adoption. The metaverse is less of a tipping point and more of an evolution. Roblox, Fortnight and Second Life are already metaverses. They use the feeling of presence and co-presence, and there's old research on this – academics like Mel Slater and Ralph Schroder showed us that being together virtually is emotional – it brings about positive reinforcement. We'll need AI-powered synthetic individuals to bump into in online social spaces because we need to feel like we're interacting with people – shaking hands, having sex and so on. We'll probably need 6G to power and connect all that technology, particularly if we want to use it when out and about. What security implications have you identified in the metaverse? Nothing's 100 percent secure – we must assume there'll be technical and human vulnerabilities in every aspect of VR, augmented reality (AR) and other metaverse-enabling technologies. In these scenarios, we look at all those vulnerabilities. We have signals already, like the panic around 'zoombombing' – hackers interrupting video conferencing with obscene and violent material. It happened because people shared their passwords on the open internet. We needn't panic – basic security measures would deal with it. But it shows that exploitation and infiltration will also play out in VR and AR. Are there new cyberthreats for the metaverse and related immersive technologies, or is it the same threats in new spaces and technologies? Much of it comes back to basic digital hygiene like patching, updating, and installing antivirus software. Basic 'handwashing' can do much to prevent ransomware infections. In that way, the new stuff isn't new, but we haven't given it enough attention. We've viewed online harm as less impactful – as it's not physical abuse, we treat it less seriously. With metaverse technologies, you can physically sense resistance and impact, which means opportunities for physical assault. That has an operational impact for information security and cybersecurity. What implications do these threats have for cybersecurity leaders today? Technical information and security aspects become more important in addressing psychological and physical harms in these connected spaces. Pacemaker interference with medical internet of things (IoT) signals that. We already have people walking around with internet-connected medical devices like defibrillators, insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors. If those don't function properly, and if somebody dies, the question of responsibility arises. If it hasn't already happened, Chief Information Security Officers will be asked, 'What did the data say about any interference with that pacemaker? Was the firmware up to date?' We can see something similar playing out in the metaverse. Everyone will say it's someone else's responsibility – those who make the hardware will say it's the experience developer's responsibility, they'll say it's the user's responsibility, and so on. People used to thinking only about data security and network security must now consider users' physical safety.
cross cloud world

With complex data storage now the norm, how can business stay secure?

  • min read
    • While firms in every line of business are planning increased cloud use, defending against the increased range of digital dangers needn't be time-consuming or expensive, even in a multicloud world. Almost nine in ten companies use multicloud – multiple cloud storage and processing providers – to power IT and store business-critical information. A whopping 80 percent use both public and private cloud. While these complex storage setups bring advantages, they make life harder for IT professionals. Recent Kaspersky research found IT complexity is becoming a top challenge for businesses, particularly securing these networked environments. How can leaders make sure it's all secure and manageable? Defending growing data worlds The number of employee and customer digital touchpoints that must be secured in the average enterprise is ballooning. Networks are getting more complex and the amount of data gathered skyrocketing. That data can be enormously valuable – if it doesn't get lost completely in the crowd of, well, more data. Meanwhile, high-severity cybersecurity incidents grew by half in just a year. Hackers keep finding new ways to breach defenses. "Cloud and online IT complexity expand each year as the magnitude of cyberthreats grow," Tim Rosato, head of trend forecasting firm Silver Lion Group, told me in a phone interview. "User accounts, information and logins are also traveling across more cloud networks, apps and virtual desktop environments." New solutions for multicloud enterprise This growing complexity has sent many companies the way of investing in automated endpoint detection and response (EDR) platforms. These proactively scan for and eliminate threats. They're also implementing more specialist security products for hybrid cloud with controls that let you centralize security. It's all about greater network visibility and faster threat response across online workloads, software development and third-party apps. "We live in a multicloud environment. Our research shows malicious actors can take advantage of any unprotected cloud, gaining unauthorized access to the whole infrastructure. New solutions can help protect assets and remediate different kinds of attacks", says Marc Rivero, senior security researcher at Kaspersky's Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT.) New digital identity management tools also help identify and authenticate users as they travel across apps, networks and cloud providers. You'll also want to routinely scan code and applications, networked systems and connected devices for potential points of compromise, closing loopholes before they get used. Simple actions can also lower odds of compromise further, like adopting zero-trust security and multi-factor authentication. And you can't go past promoting security awareness regularly among staff, with training every three to six months. Back up data offline every 24 hours and test security teams' reaction times using exercises based on real-world cyber incidents. Data-mapping tools that track how information flows across your business, and which users have or control access to this data, can also strengthen your cloud defenses. They help you classify and cordon off data by sensitivity level, which may also be useful in regulatory compliance. Many clouds certainly don't make light work, but the growth of multicloud and hybrid cloud is here to stay. For enterprises, the challenge is making sure their security is up to scratch for this complex environment. The increasing adoption of solutions that use automation and AI, and those designed for convoluted cloud settings, show many are taking heed. But no matter how many clouds or endpoints, remember your people must be the heart of your cybersecurity strategy.
threats outer space

How criminals could use space junk to attack any business

  • min read
    • A powerful way cybercriminals can cause catastrophic damage on Earth is to attack in space. It may sound like science fiction, but now we all rely on space infrastructure to do business, any organization could be affected. Space enthusiast and Distinguished Chair of the cybersecurity program at Middle East Institute Chris Kubecka explains a little-known space disaster scenario we should be more aware of in Tomorrow Unlocked's video Threats in Outer Space. Smash-ups in space Although space exploration has brought many world-changing advances, it's left orbit like many places on Earth – littered. From obsolete satellites to rocket parts and chips of paint, space junk circles the Earth at high speeds, threatening to collide with useful things, like working satellites and the International Space Station. Collisions could be deadly or cause irreparable damage to expensive equipment. Any smash-up creates more space junk, raising the risk to other orbiting objects. For a sense of just how much 'stuff' there is up there, see known space objects tracked in real-time on StuffIn.Space, some known only as 'debris' or 'unknown.' The 'black swan' of space crashes One of the most serious consequences of a space collision is Kessler Syndrome. Kubecka describes it: "A big enough collision would create a chain reaction, causing space junk to smash into each other all over orbit, forming a dust cloud." An accident or deliberate attack could trigger a Kessler Syndrome event. Kubecka explains, "It's now so cheap to build 'attack CubeSats' or even larger satellites. You could cause collisions." She also points to the growing use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in space tech. "If IoT goes rogue, that's a big problem." As wealthy business people become more visible in space exploration, the potential for huge media attention will attract cybercriminals to attack their space systems and use them to create chaos in space – and so, chaos on Earth. Preventing a 'Kessler' event As well as protecting space systems from cyberattack through the best available methods, like cyber immunity – building systems in a way that makes them almost impossible to compromise – we must take out the space trash. As part of the Securing Space initiative, Kaspersky supports fledgling innovators StartRocket as they develop a new way to remove space debris from orbit – with foam.
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About Secure Futures

Secure Futures magazine is your go-to business guide for opinions, trends and insight into the world of technology and cybersecurity. We help your business to bring on the future. Brought to you by Kaspersky, the global cybersecurity experts.

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