Cybersecurity is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for businesses of all sizes and industries. The US is facing an unprecedented wave of cyberattacks that threaten to disrupt its economy, national security and public safety. According to the FBI, cybercrime losses totaled nearly $2.4 billion in 2021, and the number is expected to rise in 2023 as cybercriminals become more sophisticated and creative.
In this blog post, we will explore some of the major cybersecurity threats that are affecting the US in 2023, why they are happening, and what you can do to protect your business from them.
Are Cybersecurity Threats on the Rise?
The answer is yes. Cybersecurity threats are on the rise for several reasons, such as:
– Geopolitical and economic factors: The US is involved in various conflicts and tensions with other countries, such as Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, that have strong cyber capabilities and motivations to launch cyberattacks against the US and its allies. Moreover, the global pandemic, inflation and poverty have created more incentives for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerable individuals and organizations for financial gain.
– New technologies: The rapid adoption of new technologies, such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, internet of things and 5G, has increased the attack surface and complexity of cybersecurity. These technologies offer many benefits, but also introduce new risks and challenges, such as data breaches, privacy violations, identity theft and sabotage.
– Human factors: The human element is often the weakest link in cybersecurity. Many cyberattacks rely on social engineering techniques, such as phishing, spoofing and impersonation, to trick users into revealing sensitive information or performing malicious actions. Moreover, many users lack awareness or training on how to protect themselves and their devices from cyber threats.
Why is the US Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks?
The US is vulnerable to cyber attacks for several reasons, such as:
– Critical infrastructure: The US relies heavily on critical infrastructure sectors, such as energy, transportation, health care and finance, that are essential for its functioning and well-being. However, these sectors are also attractive targets for cyberattacks that can cause widespread damage and disruption. For example, in 2021, a ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline, which supplies nearly half of the East Coast’s fuel, resulted in gas shortages and price spikes across several states.
– Digital dependency: The US is one of the most digitally connected countries in the world, with more than 300 million internet users and 275 million smartphone users. This means that the US is also more exposed to cyber threats that can compromise its online services, platforms and networks. For example, in 2020, a massive cyberattack on SolarWinds, a software company that provides IT management solutions to many government agencies and private companies, compromised the security of thousands of organizations and potentially exposed sensitive data.
– Regulatory gaps: The US does not have a comprehensive national cybersecurity strategy or legislation that can effectively address the current and emerging cyber challenges. The cybersecurity landscape is fragmented and complex, with multiple stakeholders and jurisdictions involved. This creates gaps and inconsistencies in cybersecurity policies, standards and practices across different sectors and levels of government.
Is the US Being Attacked by Cyber Attacks?
The answer is yes. The US is being attacked by cyber attacks from various sources and methods, such as:
– State-sponsored actors: These are hackers or groups that are supported or directed by foreign governments or entities that have political or strategic interests in harming or influencing the US. Some of the most active state-sponsored actors targeting the US include Russia’s APT28 (also known as Fancy Bear or Cozy Bear), China’s APT41 (also known as Barium or Wicked Panda), Iran’s APT33 (also known as Elfin or Refined Kitten) and North Korea’s Lazarus Group (also known as Hidden Cobra or Zinc).
– Cybercriminals: These are hackers or groups that are motivated by financial gain or personal benefit. They use various techniques, such as ransomware, malware, fraud and extortion, to steal money or data from their victims. Some of the most notorious cybercriminal groups targeting the US include REvil (also known as Sodinokibi), DarkSide (responsible for the Colonial Pipeline attack), Emotet (a malware distribution network) and TrickBot (a banking trojan).
– Hacktivists: These are hackers or groups that are motivated by social or political causes or ideologies. They use various techniques, such as denial-of-service attacks, defacement or leaks, to disrupt or expose their targets. Some of the most prominent hacktivist groups targeting the US include Anonymous (a loose collective of activists), LulzSec (a splinter group of Anonymous) and WikiLeaks (a whistleblowing platform).
What is the United States Cyber Security Threat Level?
The United States cyber security threat level is high, meaning that there is a high risk of cyberattacks that can cause significant harm or damage to the US or its interests. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses a color-coded system to indicate the cyber threat level, ranging from green (low) to red (severe). The current cyber threat level is yellow (elevated), meaning that there is a significant risk of cyberattacks.
The DHS also issues alerts and bulletins to inform the public and stakeholders about specific cyber threats, vulnerabilities and incidents that affect the US. For example, in August 2023, the DHS issued an alert about a ransomware campaign targeting health care and public health sectors, and advised organizations to take preventive and mitigating measures.
How to Protect Your Business from Cybersecurity Threats
Cybersecurity threats are inevitable, but they are not invincible. There are many steps that you can take to protect your business from cybersecurity threats, such as:
– Assess your risks: Identify and prioritize your most valuable and vulnerable assets, systems and data, and evaluate the potential impact and likelihood of cyberattacks on them.
– Implement best practices: Adopt and follow cybersecurity standards, frameworks and guidelines that are relevant and applicable to your industry and organization, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO 27001 or CIS Controls.
– Educate your staff: Train and raise awareness among your employees and contractors on how to recognize and avoid cyber threats, such as phishing emails, malicious links or attachments, and how to report and respond to incidents.
– Update your systems: Keep your software, hardware and firmware updated with the latest patches and security fixes, and use antivirus, firewall and encryption tools to protect your devices and networks.
– Backup your data: Regularly backup your important data and store it in a secure location, such as a cloud service or an external hard drive, and test your backup and recovery processes.
– Monitor your activity: Use tools and services that can detect and alert you of any suspicious or anomalous activity or behavior on your systems or networks, such as intrusion detection systems (IDS), security information and event management (SIEM) or managed security service providers (MSSP).
– Plan your response: Develop and test a cybersecurity incident response plan that defines roles, responsibilities, procedures and communication channels for handling different types of cyberattacks.
Cybersecurity is not a one-time effort, but a continuous process that requires constant vigilance, adaptation and improvement. By following these steps, you can reduce your exposure to cybersecurity threats and enhance your resilience in the face of cyber challenges.
[Heritage.org] https://www.heritage.org/cybersecurity/heritage-explains/the-growing-threat-cyberattacks
[Embroker.com] https://www.embroker.com/blog/cyber-attack-statistics/
