The year 2011 brought about many new or advanced challenges in the cybercrime field. Some of the big headliners included:
- With the closing of Reddit's "jailbait" section, many websites have begun to move away from semi-anonymous postings. Several have integrated Facebook to require users to post to sites within their Facebook accounts. Of course, websites are protected by the Communications Decency Act, but making the swap certainly brings much less headache.
- The group "Anonymous" began attacks as early as 2006, but their acts expanded greatly last year with relation to unrest in the Middle East, Bank of America, Sony, child pornographers, and more.
- With the Pentagon acknowledging in July that over 24,000 files had been stolen, the DOD developed a framework for virtual retaliation for cyberwarfare attacks. The hackings of the U.S. Senate and the CIA in the spring also brought about many discussions in congressional committees on how to deal with the issue of cybersecurity.
The new year is certain to present new issues. Here are a few predictions as to what we should expect:
- Increased smartphone attacks - Computers which have long been easy to attack are now the hard targets. Cell phones are almost entirely unprotected - most of us have no virus or malware protection. With increasing financial transactions by smartphone apps, this is sure to be a major issue in 2012. The major question is who is going to pay for the protection - will cell users have to buy virus scanning software or will phones start coming with it pre-installed?
- Cyber intrusions of utilities - In November, it was reported that hackers had gained remote access to a water pump in Illinois and caused it to burnout, but DHS later found there was "no evidence of a cyber intrusion." However, this method of cyber attacks certainly seems to have potential. With groups like Anonymous that use hacking to further social causes, it only seems natural to extend their reach into electrical grids or water supply stations.
- More movement to the cloud - Many businesses and governments have already begun to make the move as it is more cost-effective and convenient. That in itself presents a problem - if all government records are in the cloud, the data may be more susceptible to theft. Further, cyber criminals will also likely make the move. It is much easier to find evidence when it is on their hard drive, but much more difficult when spread out over hundreds of servers worldwide.
Thank you all for reading my blog. I've enjoyed the last few months, and I hope I can continue to offer you good information in the year to come.
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