Cyber security alert! Malware already exceeds 4,000M
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Companies are facing an unstable threat landscape, putting cybersecurity professionals on alert. The latest data reveals that the global volume of malware exceeds 4 billion, growing steadily for three quarters.
To delve deeper into this reality, SonicWall has launched the “Threat Mindset Survey 2022”, a survey highlighting that 91% of organizations reported that it is easier than ever to carry out ransomware attacks.
With Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) offerings, even less technical cybercriminals can purchase ransomware kits on the dark web and target organizations with minimal experience. This is a concern among security professionals.
“The battlefront of cyber warfare continues to change, posing dangerous threats to organizations of all sizes. With the geometrically growing attack surface, growing number of threats, and today’s geopolitical landscape, it should come as no surprise that even the most seasoned IT professional can feel overwhelmed,” said Bob VanKirk, president and CEO of SonicWall.
Tactics intensify and diversify
Ransomware attacks overall have been trending down in the first three quarters of 2022, especially in the US, where they are down 51%.
However, attack locations have continued to change, with ransomware attempts increasing in the UK (20%), EMEA (38%) and Asia Pacific (56%) compared to the same period last year.
SonicWall Cyber Threat Report Update Reveals an Unstable Threat Landscape, Putting Cybersecurity Professionals on Alert
SonicWall’s proprietary threat intelligence also found that Q3 2022 saw the lowest quarterly ransomware volume since Q3 2020. Even in decline, SonicWall recorded 338.4 million ransomware attempts since the beginning of year.
IoT malware
Hackers are increasingly targeting financial companies, such as banks or trading companies, with cyberattacks designed to maliciously use computer systems to illegally mine cryptocurrencies. Cryptojacking volume increased 35% globally over three quarters, including a 377% increase in EMEA and a 160% increase in Asia Pacific.
With the rise of smart devices entering the digital space every day, there is a growing need for Internet of Things (IoT) security. IoT devices have multiple ways to connect to a network, offering multiple attack vectors to exploit. IoT malware increased 92% globally, with jumps of 82% and 200% in APJ and North America, respectively.
Malware variants “never seen before”
SonicWall’s proprietary Real-Time Deep Memory InspectionTM (RTDMI) technology identified 373,756 never-before-seen malware variants during the first three quarters of 2022, a 22% year-to-date increase.
One of these never-before-seen malware variants was Spyder Loader, which has been observed targeting government organizations in Hong Kong this October 2022.
SonicWall RTDMI has proactively detected this strain of malware, and threat researchers at SonicWall Capture Labs were the first to publish their SonicAlert 2021 analysis in March – a showcase of RTDMI’s machine learning-driven capabilities.
