Internet Security Report Shows Spike in Cyber Threats

cyberthreats

The number of DDoS attacks has more than doubled and cyber “mega-attacks” are on the rise, according to a new “State of the Internet Security Report” released by Akamai this week. The report also announced that WordPress, the Internet’s most popular website and blogging platform, had 49 new plug-in and theme vulnerabilities exposed by Akamai researchers. The report states that because of its popularity, WordPress “is an attractive target for attackers who aim to exploit hundreds of known vulnerabilities to build botnets, spread malware and launch DDoS campaigns.”

More than just a threat to the business and infrastructure of the Internet, attacks and vulnerabilities like these pose serious risk to individual data and personal security. Last year, cybersecurity company Semantic reported that over 348 million identities were stolen, exposing 46 percent of Americans through these data breaches. And CSIS, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, estimates the annual cost of cybercrime tops $400 billion and results in a loss of up to 200,000 jobs.

The chart below shows China at the top of the list for DDoS attack traffic, at 37 percent – up from 23 percent last quarter. Second and third were the U.S. and the U.K. According to the report, “all three countries showed significant growth in the number of attacks originating from within their borders.”

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The complexity, speed, and danger of multi-national cyber attacks like these demand a solution. And while malicious attacks will, in one way or another, always be a part of a digitally connected society, there are things we can do to mitigate their damage and prevent the most dangerous threats to personal data and critical infrastructure. Namely, we can support CISA, a bill that not only allows companies to share cyber threat information with each other in order to slow and even stop cyber attacks, but also works diligently to protect individual privacy.

The cyber incidents detailed by Akamai underscore the need for legislation to help businesses improve their awareness of cyber threats, protect customer information, and to enhance capabilities in collaboration with government entities. As Akamai’s report clearly shows, cyber threats aren’t going away. They’re becoming more frequent, more coordinated, and more dangerous. We need to find a way to protect ourselves, but we can’t sacrifice personal security and individual privacy in order to do so.