A Deep Dive into Ontinue’s 2023 Threat Intelligence Report: Navigating the Complex Cybersecurity Landscape

In the fast-paced world of cybersecurity, staying ahead of emerging threats is not just a goal but a necessity. As cyber attackers evolve and become more sophisticated, organizations must arm themselves with the latest intelligence and defenses to protect their assets. The Advanced Threat Operations (ATO) team understands this need all too well. That’s why we’ve released our 2023 Threat Intelligence Report.

Unveiling the Cyber Threats of Tomorrow

The 2023 Threat Intelligence Report offers a comprehensive analysis of emerging threats, top attacks by industry, and crucial statistics that shape the cybersecurity landscape. Drawing insights from a vast network of 600,000 endpoints, Ontinue’s ATO team has provided actionable information to empower organizations to better understand and mitigate cybersecurity risks effectively.

Trends Shaping the Threat Landscape

The report sheds light on several key trends that dominated the cybersecurity landscape in 2023, including:

• The Rise of Ransomware: Threat actors have adopted more sophisticated techniques, targeting organizations of all sizes and industries. Double-extortion tactics have become increasingly prevalent, adding an extra layer of complexity to ransomware attacks.
• Internet of Things (IoT) Security: Poorly secured connected devices have become lucrative targets for cybercriminals. Exploitation of IoT devices for botnet attacks, DDoS assaults, and unauthorized access highlights the urgent need for enhanced IoT security measures.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Exploitation: Threat actors are harnessing AI and ML technologies for malicious purposes, from creating convincing deepfakes to evading traditional security measures. This trend poses a new frontier in cyber warfare, where advanced technologies are both a benefit and a hindrance.
• Social Engineering Sophistication: Social engineering attacks continue to evolve, exploiting human vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information and systems. These attacks pose a significant threat to organizations across all industries.

Looking Ahead to 2024

The report also forecasts threats that are expected to impact organizations in 2024, including:  

1. AI Exploitation: AI will be increasingly utilized both for beneficial purposes and nefarious activities such as social engineering and sophisticated attack strategies. The rising adoption of biometric security may lead to AI being leveraged to circumvent these measures.
2. IoT Vulnerabilities: The proliferation of IoT devices and 5G networks expands the potential attack surface for threat actors. Mobile devices are becoming prime targets for access point exploitation and credential harvesting, potentially facilitating espionage and the establishment of DDoS networks akin to the webcam DDoS attacks in 2016.
3. Hacktivism & Hacks-for-Hire: In light of conflicts like the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict, individual hackers and groups align themselves to disrupt opposing forces. Moreover, the prevalence of hack-for-hire operations is increasing, where mercenaries offer their services to any paying entity without allegiance.
4. Evolving Ransomware Operations: Ransomware tactics are evolving, with payloads and methods continuously changing. Notably, extortion strategies have expanded, exemplified by incidents like Alphv/blackcat’s actions in late 2023, where victims were threatened not only with data leaks but also with reports to law enforcement agencies, potentially resulting in fines.

This inaugural report underscores Ontinue’s commitment to providing customers with visibility into emerging threats, industry trends, and best practices to combat cyber threats.

You can find the full report here.

Join us for one of two live expert panel discussions on Wednesday, April 10^th where our ATO team will share their top findings and observations. Register here for the 12pm CET or 12pm EDT session.