The cybersecurity sector is continually evolving, with new changes affecting the way information is traded and protected. Now that 2016 is in full swing, it’s time to start looking forward to which threats lie ahead. In our January #SecChat, we turned our focus to top security predictions for the New Year. Participating in this chat were experts from McAfee Labs, as well as a number of industry thought leaders. This fast-paced, energetic discussion was fueled by insights from the McAfee Labs 2016 Threats Predictions Report. Here are some of the highlights from the chat:
Which type of cyber threat do you think will cause the most damage in 2016 and why?
We kicked off the chat by asking participants which type of attack they believe will cause the most damage in the New Year. Answers were as varied as they were insightful. Our own @Matt_Rosenquist suggested that organized crime, including for-hire services, will cause the most damage this year to businesses. In a similar vein, @ChristiaanBeek predicted more ransomware attacks targeting organizations by industry. @SPCoulson cited increases in large-scale data breaches. Most of our participants also agreed that ransomware attacks pose the greatest threat to individuals, due to the high profit margin for criminals.
How do you expect IoT security standards to develop in 2016?
Most participants were in agreement that IoT security standards have a long way to go. @rrstarnes started things off, stating that slow time to market is to blame. According to @getwired, the real issue at hand is the lack of incentive to implement standards. Taking a step back, @Raj_Samani asked participants to look at IoT as a multifaceted entity—one that requires a completely different security approach.
Which tactics will prove most effective in defending against difficult-to-detect threats, such as fileless malware?
The consensus around this topic was that there is no silver bullet that will completely stop difficult-to-detect threats. However, our participants did offer some potential solutions. Behavioral analysis was proposed as one detection method by both @craigschmugar and @Dinosn. As @dnlongen pointed out, many tactics suggested are “detective, not protective.” However, he did emphasize the important role detection would, in fact, play in stopping a fileless threat.
Our #SecChat covered a lot of ground on the topic of cyber threat predictions for 2016, from the evolution of security standards in the Internet of Things to new attack vectors. Thanks to all who joined the conversation! You can view the entire discussion on Twitter using the #SecChat hashtag, and follow @IntelSec_Biz to stay informed about upcoming chats.
The post January #SecChat Recap: What Will 2016 Bring for Cybersecurity? appeared first on McAfee.