Direct attacks and at-risk phones mean hacking ‘golden age’

Targeted cybercrime attacks will become rampant and more successful next year in a "golden age" for hackers.

According to software security experts Trend Micro, whose European headquarters is based in Cork, next year will see targeted attack campaigns continuing to multiply, with a continued increase in the exploitation of smart devices such as smart cameras, appliances, and TVs as cyber-criminals become more aggressive at targeting these platforms, as well as the organisations who manage the data.

Other Trend Micro predictions for 2015 include:

- More cyber-criminals will turn to darknets and exclusive-access forums to share and sell crimeware;

- Exploit kits will target Android as mobile vulnerabilities play a bigger role in device infection;

- Targeted attacks will be as prevalent as cybercrime;

- Mobile payment methods will introduce new threats;

- More attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in open source apps;

- More severe online banking and other financially motivated threats.

Advance threat research manager with Trend Micro, Robert McArdle, said that the frequency of cyber attacks was on the rise in what was a “golden age” for hackers.

“Following the success of targeted attacks from Chinese and Russian cyber-criminals, many hackers from other countries will regard cyber-attacks as a more practical method to grab a foothold in an organisation, and will yield large cash sums and theft of data,” said Mr McArdle.

“Additionally, with the constant barrage of data breaches emerging almost weekly, it’s reasonable to presume that data breaches will be essentially regarded as a common offshoot of the present threat landscape.

“Smart device manufactures must consider how to secure the data that resides in these devices not just the devices themselves.”