2018 Cybersecurity Trends

The number of cybersecurity breaches experienced in 2017 were really high, hackers kept themselves busy – just think about the WannaCry ransomware infecting Windows PCs. Furthermore, 2018 is almost here, and the future definitely holds many changes for you, Linux server operators, in the field of cybersecurity. As security always comes first, now it’s time to have a look at some upcoming trends that are expected in the next year.
We only can hope that these trends would open the eyes and help increase cybersecurity efforts to make the Internet a safer place. Let’s dive in without wasting much time.

1. Increased security costs

For quite some time, shared hosting has been the major means of hosting web applications.
However, things have changed. Cloud hosting has come in and the tables have turned. It has gradually become the go to method for web hosting as it provides great scalability and high level of security.
The competition between hosting providers are getting more tighter day-by-day. To convince visitors to use their solution requires advanced techniques which gives something more than the others.
This difference can be the sense of safeness, the feeling of being protected against hackers and other cybercriminals. Because of it the members of hosting industry will armor themselves and widen their palette with various security solutions. Everything has its own price and this additional line of defense is going to raise the price in this sector as well.
To keep up with the number of users, cloud hosting companies are going to employ more sysadmins to ensure they deliver high quality services. This would have a telling effect on the cost of cloud hosting, prices are set to increase in 2018 as the competition between hosting companies becomes tougher. Because of it you should grab now the best hosting offers for the next year before the year runs out. Else, you may have to pay a bit more for the same services in next year.

2. The impact of GDPR

It's no news that data is key for every company. With the European GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) law, all misuse of data from companies would experience a huge decrease.
After the law was made in 2016 to replace the 1995 data regulation law, hosting companies who handle lots of personal data has been given two years to get prepared for the evolution. As the data laws come into effect from May 25, 2018 they have a little bit less than a half year to make all the required changes.
From May 2018, companies and individuals would have to be extra careful with the way they go about obtaining, recording, adapting or holding personal data which could be name, address, IP address etc. else they could be getting in rely on big trouble.

3. Control of IoT devices

As more people go into utilizing the technology of Internet of Things, the need to operate the devices remotely remains huge. These days IoT devices can easily be operated from mobile apps and websites.
However, despite the advantages of remote operation, hackers would pose a big threat to the smooth operation of mobile apps and websites that help control the use of IoT devices.
Security experts and major businesses all around the world should take their malware defense measures more seriously.
In 2018, cybersecurity would come under immense tests, so sysadmins and pentesters have to be prepared so as to ensure a high level of security is attained.

4. Dramatic increase in mobile app infections

When the word malware is mentioned, the image of PC infections pops up mostly. Mobile devices also have been targeted in recent years and people have lost a lot of resources due to malwares. Android smartphones are exposed to vulnerabilities, as Zimperium Labs have discovered that 95 percent of Android devices could have security bypassed with just a text message. Sadly, the iPhone isn't immune either. So users should do well to stay away from untrusted 3rd party apps as much as possible, and should also negate the urge to root or jailbreak their mobile phones.

5. Cryptocurrency brings cybercriminals?

It would be naive for anyone to say at this point that they have never heard about cryptocurrency.
This digital currency has taken the world by storm and has experienced high demand over the last few years. With the rise in popularity levels of cryptocurrency, many businesses are beginning to accept payments using this platform. This rise in demand has led to an increase in value as cryptocurrencies, as the values keep rising with no signs of ever slowing down. However, this has also opened the floor to cyber criminals who wouldn‘t want anyone tracking their transactions and utilizing the secrecy that cryptocurrencies provide. Sooner or later, laws may have to be implemented concerning the use of cryptocurrency regardless of the fact that it doesn‘t have a central bank so as to help improve cybersecurity.
2018 may be that year!
  

6. Improvement in biometrics

The number of online transactions has increased over the years, as people can easily shop online, make bank payments or transfers with their mobile and web apps. This technology has also gotten the interest of cybercriminals who are willing to intercept the transactions.
Truly, sysadmins and security specialists can do their best to keep users’ data safe. However, putting an increase in server security may just not be enough.
In 2018, there would be improved biometrics and user verification technologies in place.
Top financial organizations have begun introducing smart cards that are biometrics enabled and are also compliant with the standards of the likes of MasterCard, Visa, Verve etc. These smart cards have been embedded with sensors which get activated at the time of purchase using the owner’s fingerprints only.
So, in 2018 we expect new technologies to help verification processes such as using fingerprint and voice biometrics to improve cybersecurity and reduce the rate of cybercrimes.

7. Phishing attempts and spams just won’t stop

To be realistic, phishing and spamming would never be totally eliminated. However, an increase in this field is definitely not what anybody wants and that's one of our reason why BitNinja exists.
The use of spear phishing techniques for targeting small groups of people and whale phishing for targeting executive level management has cost individuals and companies huge losses in the quest of cyber criminals to collect information or gain access to systems.
Everybody is endangered, however, it's worse case when a server, especially mailserver, falls victim.
Therefore, to stay safe it is best to be careful of opening any email, checking the authenticity of websites before inputting any vital details. Email spamming remains the major way for spreading malware, and it is expected to be utilized by hackers in 2018 too.
Beware!

8. Robots, robots, robots

In 2018, the use of Robotics-as-a-Service is going to experience an increase as about 30% of commercial service would be utilizing robotic technology. Also, we would see more software based robots, that rely on cloud-based software to define cognitive abilities. This implies that the job of a sysadmin would experience more dynamism than ever and it means urgency of improved IT security skills.

9. Artificial Intelligence for cybersecurity

 Artificial Intelligence was a huge buzzword this year. In 2018, we should expect an improvement in AI for security solutions. With that, cybercrimes can be easily followable and provides the basis for better decisions.
There is a lot of positivity towards this, as Darktrace CEO Nicole Eagan argues that artificial intelligence is the only way to defend networks against the “unknown unknowns”.
AI would make it easier to discover the exploits that your antivirus would most likely never detect.

10. Rise of hybrid cloud technology

Private and hybrid cloud services have experienced significant success until now. However, it's going to succeed more in 2018.
A lot of companies that already have their businesses hosted on the public cloud have begun realizing how unsafe it is, and the migration to the hybrid cloud is shaking up a whole lot of things.
Containers and Platform-as-a-Service are now being deployed to hybrid cloud platforms in a move to enable application developers to create great value for businesses in quick time.
With hybrid cloud technology, there would also be an increase in cloud storage capacity, so sysadmins also have to be ready to up their game as there would be more workload in 2018.

Conclusion

 The IT space is known to be ever expanding, with new technologies coming up on a daily. This also gives room for exploitation for black hat hackers who are waiting to find a vulnerability in any new technology and that take that opportunity to pounce.
All in all, the battle against cyber crime continues and 2018 looks like it would be a great year for every IT inclined person especially Linux and Windows system administrators as everyone seems to be shifting attention to the cloud based technology.
Based on our article you can see the field of cybersecurity is a little neglected.
Lots of IoT, webpage or some server owners are not interested in to keep their devices or page in a safe condition.
We know, this passive behavior can be rooted in various reasons: the lack of time, the lack of knowledge of specific technologies or the price of the tools.
Maintaining your security solutions can be a long and boring procedure but not with BitNinja. 🙂
We can give you a wide range of comprehensive security tools in one product, which can be installed in three minutes and requires no additional maintenance. We will deliver the regular auto-updates and keep your Linux server in safe for a reasonable price.

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