The world of cybersecurity is still in its infancy. However, it’s a new year, and reflection is a great way to prepare for future evolutions in online defense.
In 2022, many lessons were learned, threats were exposed, and successes were shared. From the continued issues attached to the COVID-19 pandemic to the new threats exposed by the Russian war on Ukraine to the instability in the world of cryptocurrency, throughout all of these occurrences, one thing remains clear: digital security is vital in the modern world.
Throughout the past year, new methods were created to boost mobile app security and the source code that serves as its foundation. Now, the mobile app security industry faces the dawn of a new year and, with it, new challenges.
One of the best ways to boost defenses and protect digital assets is to partner with a well-established security company that protects mobile applications across different scenarios and coding languages. PreEmptive provides modern solutions that help companies defend and form proactive approaches to securing their valuable applications.
Preparing for the future requires a meticulous study of the past. Throughout 2022, specific trends revealed systemic weaknesses and areas requiring desperate improvement. In addition, these lessons serve as important reminders of what to look for heading into 2023.
Ransomware is rampant and shows no signs of stopping. Although data is not yet finalized for 2022, experts determined that in 2021, a ransomware attack occurred, on average, every 11 seconds.
A significant reason for this is that many businesses’ security methods – specifically when it comes to mobile app security – do not keep up with the evolving methods of hackers.
Cybercriminals recognize weaknesses in faulty digital assets and can use them to infiltrate businesses. The rise of ransomware attacks also revealed mobile applications as a prime target. Overall, 70% of online fraud is perpetrated through mobile applications and platforms.
Therefore, as cell phones become more ingrained in the lives of online users, it’s evident there’ll be continued increases in ransomware attacks.
Cloud computing was once thought to be highly secure. However, in 2022, it was evident that cyber criminals have developed methods to infiltrate cloud technology that was once considered airtight.
In 2022, a staggering 45% of all data breaches were cloud-based, each one costing around $4.3 million. Even major cloud services, like Dropbox, succumbed to cloud hackers in 2022.
Overall, concerns grow around how criminals have evolved their strategies to manipulate user trust in Cloud data for nefarious gain.
Over the years, organizations have become adept at spotting and eliminating phishing scams via email. However, in 2022, phishing attacks rose by 61%, and it was evident that they began to take new forms.
Now, phishing attacks have become more complex, realistic, and harder to determine. Whether used to target users on significant platforms like Facebook or through the latest cryptocurrency scams, phishing schemes are showing clear signs of becoming more complex.
There’s no doubt about it: investing in digital security and application security is now a key part of operation budgets all around the globe.
Investment in mobile applications, obfuscation, and data protection continues to rise, mainly because organizations find immense value in taking preventative measures before it’s too late.
As stated above, in 2022, ransomware attacks increased, and this trajectory is only likely to continue upward heading into 2023, as Ransomware attacks are predicted to take $30 billion in the coming year.
Attackers increasingly recognize the opportunity and monetary advantage of ransomware attacks. This is why, in 2023, it’s likely that ransomware will become a more persistent avenue of attack.
There’s a clear and growing need for data protection tools and professionals. 2023 will likely bring a significant push for organizations — from the federal government to small businesses — to include more help fortifying data and application security.
Additionally, with more laws regarding data protection and user security, the data security labor force is likely to grow as companies strive to comply. Likewise, security applications and services that offer excellent, modern digital security methods are predicted to continue receiving investment and growth in the coming year.
Many organizations already rely on the power of artificial intelligence to prevent cyberattacks. Given that AI has proven an effective measure thus far, in the year to come, it’s expected that more businesses will continue implementing artificial intelligence as a key part of their data strategy.
Machine learning tech helps identify potential weaknesses in mobile applications and alerts officials to threats in real time. Lastly, many companies will gravitate toward AI-powered cybersecurity as it continues to prove useful and offer financial benefit in identifying and mitigating data breaches.
Data privacy regulations have increased over the past decade, and experts only see them becoming more rigorous in the future. They started in places like the European Union with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Then these regulations were popularized in the United States with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Overall, these laws guarantee institutions more extensive data protection and control for mobile users.
In 2022, a bill titled the American Privacy and Data Protection Act drew bipartisan support. However, It was not passed by Congress before the end of the year and will have to be reintroduced for further consideration. There continue to be growing calls for governing bodies to enhance privacy laws, specifically regarding user applications and how businesses harvest and process data.
Hackers are always looking for weaknesses in application security, typically viewing source code as a common point of entry. Because of this, organizations must look for ways to continue to increase app hardening efforts, which use source code obfuscation to defend from cross-site scripting and reverse engineering attacks.
Therefore, an effective app hardening service will be crucial to building a modern defense for digital assets.
Heading into 2023, the potential impact of poor app security is severe. Whether organizations need it for Android, iPhone, or any other purpose, partnering with a service that performs app hardening and data obfuscation measures is paramount to avoid the latest risks that leave digital assets open to attackers.
PreEmptive is a trusted leader in the fight to help organizations protect their valued assets against cybercrime. By providing a systemic and proactive approach to mobile security, PreEmptive’s comprehensive offerings can help any business arm itself with the right tools to help them thrive in the year ahead.