BotNet News

Cyberthreat News

In 2024, high-profile ransomware attacks and third-party breaches fueled an alarming expansion in scale and tactics. Despite the fact that many organizations have strong cybersecurity programs, these incidents are a reminder that no one is immune to attacks.

In addition to stealing financial data, a new wave of cyberattacks focuses on disrupting information systems and IT infrastructure to damage the target company’s operations. This type of attack is often harder to detect than traditional theft, and the impact can be far-reaching.

Cyberattackers can be criminals, states, or private persons. They can also have a range of motivations, from corporate espionage to hacking for fun. In the former case, hackers steal intellectual property to give their companies a competitive edge over competitors. Others simply hack for sport and enjoy the intellectual challenge. Finally, some attackers are merely looking for an opportunity to exploit a vulnerability before defenders patch it. These attackers are known as outsider threats.

Insider threats are employees, business partners, and clients with authorized access who misuse their privileges. They may do so accidentally or intentionally, but only intentional abuse qualifies as a cyberattack. For example, an employee who carelessly stores sensitive information in an unsecured drive isn’t committing a cyberattack, but a disgruntled worker who makes copies of confidential information for personal gain does.

A growing body of research shows that journalists in many countries face a wide range of digital threats. These threats are expensive and difficult for newsrooms to address on their own, especially for independent journalists and publishers operating in or exile from hostile or authoritarian regimes. Collaboration among policymakers, platforms, researchers and domestic and international civil society groups can be a critical way to ensure the digital security of the global press.