WATERLOO, ON, Feb. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackBerry
Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) today released the 2021 BlackBerry
Threat Report, detailing a sharp rise in cyberthreats facing
organizations since the onset of COVID-19. The research shows a
cybercrime industry which not only adapted to new digital habits,
but also became increasingly successful in finding and targeting
vulnerable organizations. The research also highlights a dangerous
new shift in the cybercrime world, one where mercenaries and
crimeware-as-a-service models have become increasingly
accessible.
At the outset of the pandemic, countless organizations suddenly
had to support a large proportion of their workforce remotely, with
many forced to digitize various parts of their infrastructure
overnight. This evolution and adoption of digital offerings exposed
companies to inadequate protections for employees and customers
amongst an ever-growing and under-secured attack surface. There was
also a greater merging of cyber and physical threats, with
cybercriminals increasingly targeting healthcare organizations or
using the pandemic to trick already vulnerable populations.
"The cybersecurity industry becomes more complex each passing
year as new technologies, devices and innovations emerge – and at
no time was that truer than in 2020, which witnessed everything
from a global pandemic to the U.S. election," said Eric Milam, Vice President of Research and
Intelligence, BlackBerry. "As the world becomes more interconnected
and as new dimensions to cybercrime continue to rise, preparation
will become a key factor in successful threat prevention in
2021."
Additionally, the report highlights a burgeoning
crimeware-as-a-service business model as well as the increasing
sophistication and collaboration of these hacker-for-hire groups.
Not only was the ransomware-as-a-service model highly successful –
especially as more non-digital natives transacted online – but the
additional research into threat actors such as BAHAMUT and
CostaRicto shows that these groups possess the tools once thought
to be solely the domain of nation-state attackers. This presents a
new danger for companies, one where attacks can be more frequent,
skillful and targeted.
Key Findings in the 2021 Annual Threat Report
- Ransomware attacks shifted from performing indiscriminate
targeting to conducting highly focused campaigns deployed via
compromised MSSPs
- Elections remained vulnerable to cyber attacks through
unsecured mobile technology, insufficient DMARC email protection,
and over-exposure of personal information on social media
- Global automakers faced new regulations to protect connected
vehicles from cyber attacks and data theft
- Numerous phishing campaigns targeted critical infrastructure
systems across manufacturing, healthcare, energy services and food
supply sectors
- Mercenary threat groups experienced a year of growth as
unscrupulous actors and organizations outsourced their cyber
attacks
- Ransomware-as-a-service offerings grew in popularity, replacing
traditional off-the-shelf ransomware with ready-made exploit kits,
malspam campaigns and threat emulation software
- Newer APT groups like CostaRicto targeted disparate victims
worldwide with their customized backdoors and tooling
- Emotet, the banking trojan turned attack platform, received new
upgrades and capabilities, including a flaw that allowed BlackBerry
researchers to easily identify and prevent it from installing on
systems
"As both public and private organizations work to meet cyber
espionage groups at ground zero, the foundation for robust security
practices remains unchanged. From round-the-clock monitoring to
AI-driven security tools and insider threat detection, the same
time-tested security fundamentals – and an understanding of how
current events impact an organization's attack surface – can make
the difference between a data breach and a successful cyber
defense," Milam continued.
To learn more, download a copy of 2021 BlackBerry Threat
Report.
About BlackBerry
BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB)
provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises
and governments around the world. The company secures more
than 500M endpoints including
175M cars on the road today.
Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the
company leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative
solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety and data privacy
solutions, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint security,
endpoint management, encryption, and embedded systems.
BlackBerry's vision is clear - to secure a connected future you can
trust.
BlackBerry. Intelligent Security. Everywhere.
For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow
@BlackBerry.
Trademarks, including but not limited to BLACKBERRY and
EMBLEM Design are the trademarks or registered trademarks of
BlackBerry Limited, and the exclusive rights to such trademarks are
expressly reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners. BlackBerry is not responsible for any
third-party products or services.
Media Contact:
BlackBerry Media Relations
+1
(519) 597-7273
mediarelations@BlackBerry.com
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SOURCE BlackBerry Limited