In 2017, the WannaCry ransomware attack, Equifax data breach and other large-scale cyber incidents demonstrated the dangers of cyber crimes, and the data stolen from those incidents will continue to endanger businesses and consumers for years. Additionally, in early January, researchers announced the Meltdown and Spectre processor exploits, which hackers can use to steal data from nearly every computer and mobile device.
Nearly 60 percent of businesses experienced a data breach in 2017, according to Forrester Research.
Although hackers often try to conceal their methods in order to remain undetected, cyber security experts can predict the most likely cyber risks based on prior incidents and advancements in technology. Here are some of the top cyber topics to watch for in 2018:
- Software patches to address the Meltdown and Spectre exploits—Although products and applications offered by companies like Microsoft, Google, Apple and Amazon have already been updated to help defend against these exploits, the updates can cause slowdowns that could impact your operations.
- Knowledge-based authentication may become less trustworthy—The massive data breaches in 2017 gave hackers access to the names, email addresses, Social Security numbers and other information of millions of people. As a result, it will be more difficult to verify a person’s identity online.
- Cyber risks presented by business partners and third parties—Vendors, suppliers, cloud service providers and other third parties with ineffective cyber security will likely be targeted more frequently as a way to bypass normal security practices.
- Compliance with the European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)—The GDPR will become effective on May 25, 2018, and gives EU citizens more control over their personal information. Although regulators won’t audit U.S. businesses for compliance, businesses that store the personal information of EU citizens could face heavy fines in the event of a data breach or formal complaint.