Why Are Cybersecurity Threats So Easy to Carry Out?

Cyber crime has become one of the most significant threats facing individuals, businesses and governments worldwide, increasing in both frequency and severity. It has even led to the creation of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which strives to help companies stay safe from cyber attacks. However, the staggering growth of cyber threats in recent years leaves many wondering: why are cybersecurity threats so easy to carry out?

Let’s explore the factors contributing to the rise of cyber crime and why cyber criminals find it relatively easy to operate in the digital world.

Read: The Top 9 Cyber Attacks Your Company Could Face

1. Increased Reliance on Technology

As society becomes more digitally connected, more opportunities arise for cyber criminals to exploit vulnerabilities. Businesses, governments and individuals depend heavily on digital technologies for communication, financial transactions and data storage, and every time a new technology is made, it can introduce fresh vulnerabilities. This dependency has created a vast attack surface, offering cyber criminals numerous ways to infiltrate systems. For example, cloud platforms and IoT devices have become common targets.

2. Widespread Access to Hacking Tools

Businesses are moving to the cloud, and so are cyber criminals. Hacking used to require a high level of technical expertise, but today, anyone with basic knowledge can find tools on the dark web. Software developers are leveraging their expertise through web-based platforms instead of using it themselves to launch attacks. Hacking capabilities can be purchased or subscribed to at affordable prices for different types and stages of attacks, including exploit kits and ransomware. The rise in automation has also increased the ability to attack more organizations and individuals.

Read: How to Identify and Stop a Cyber Attack

3. Lack of Adequate Cybersecurity Measures and Awareness

Although technology – and cybersecurity threats – advance rapidly, many organizations lag in implementing adequate cybersecurity measures, especially if staff work remotely. Some businesses, especially small-to-medium-sized ones (SMBs), often underestimate the need for robust protection, making them attractive targets for cyber criminals. Outdated software and unpatched vulnerabilities are common entry points, and poor security hygiene exposes networks. A lack of cybersecurity awareness also means people fail to recognize dangers like phishing and malware.

4. Profitability and Low Risk

Cyber crime is a highly profitable path with low risk of getting caught; attackers can demand high ransoms for the return of stolen or encrypted data, knowing that many companies will pay to recover their operations. The average cost of a data breach in 2023 was $4.45 million. Additionally, criminals can hide their tracks and identities using tools like VPNs, cryptocurrency and the dark web, making it difficult for law enforcement to track and prosecute them.

Read: The Devastating Costs of a Cyber Attack

5. Global Nature of the Internet

Cyber crime thrives because of the global, borderless nature of the internet. A hacker in one country can attack a business or government on the other side of the world. This geographic distance, combined with differing legal systems, makes it challenging for law enforcement to pursue cyber criminals. International collaboration is often slow, allowing cyber criminals to evade capture easily. Like legitimate businesses, hackers can also easily communicate, collaborate and share knowledge through online forums and social media platforms.

6. Rapid Evolution of Cybersecurity Threats

Cyber criminals continuously evolve their tactics to stay ahead of cybersecurity defenses. New forms of malware, ransomware and advanced persistent threats (APTs) are emerging all the time, often outpacing efforts to combat them. Unfortunately, businesses are also seeing a rise in AI-powered attacks and deepfakes, leading to a wave of next-generation threats.

How to Protect Against Cyber Crimes

Although cyber crime might be widespread and evolving, there are proactive security measures that individuals and organizations can take to protect themselves. Strong cybersecurity practices can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to an attack, including:

• Use firewalls and multi-factor authentication (MFA): Firewalls and MFA form the first line of defense against cybersecurity threats. A properly configured firewall can block unauthorized access to your network, and MFA adds an extra layer of security.
• Implement strong passwords: Weak passwords are one of the most common entry points for cyber criminals. To prevent unauthorized access, use strong, complex passwords for each account. Passwords should be at least 15 characters and include a combination of numbers, symbols and upper- and lower-case letters. Consider using a password manager to generate and store passwords securely.
• Keep software and systems updated: Cyber criminals exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software to gain unauthorized access to systems. Regularly update all software, including antivirus and antimalware software, operating systems, browsers and security tools, to close these vulnerabilities. If you struggle to remember updates, enable automatic updates for all devices and applications.
• Educate and train employees: Human error is a major factor in many successful cyber attacks. Conduct regular training sessions to educate employees about common cybersecurity risks, such as phishing scams. Simulations can test employee responses and quickly identify weak spots. Also, keep staff informed about the latest cyber threats and how to mitigate them.
• Regularly back up your data: In the event of a cyber attack, having recent backups of critical data can be a lifesaver. Ensure backups are performed regularly and stored securely, both on-site and in the cloud. Test backups periodically to ensure data can be restored quickly in an emergency.
• Enable encryption: Encryption protects sensitive data by making it unreadable to unauthorized users. Encryption adds an extra layer of security, no matter if the data is at rest or in transit.
• Monitor network activity: Active monitoring of network traffic can help detect unusual or suspicious activity before a full-scale breach occurs. Set up an intrusion detection system (IDS) and an intrusion prevention system (IPS) to monitor and respond to potential threats in real-time.
• Establish three core plans: Preparing for a cyber incident is as important as preventing one. Three core plans outline how your team should handle a cyber attack to reduce downtime and limit damage: an incident response plan (IRP), a business continuity plan (BCP) and a disaster recovery plan (DRP).
• Be cautious online: Ensure a website or email is legitimate before clicking links or entering personal information. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. Don’t conduct sensitive transactions or access personal accounts on public Wi-Fi networks.
• Secure mobile devices: Desktop computers aren’t the only devices that cyber criminals target. Mobile device management (MDM) can help protect devices from cyber attacks.

Read: The Best Practices Against Cyber Attacks

Fight Cybersecurity Threats with Thriveon

The best way to fight cyber crime and avoid becoming the next victim is to stay vigilant, invest in cybersecurity and become knowledgeable about cybersecurity threats and the strategies to protect your company. One way to accomplish this is to partner with an award-winning managed service provider like Thriveon.Our cybersecurity-intensive approach means we can help you meet regulatory requirements while protecting sensitive data and systems from data breaches and attacks. We have the cybersecurity knowledge to keep you from getting hacked.

Schedule a meeting now to see how we can safeguard your business.