Heimdal Security Company: 10 Surprising Cyber Security Facts That May Affect Your Online Safety

The cyber security industry is growing as you’re reading this. More specialists join the ranks, more malware is being launched every day than ever before: 230,000 new malware samples/day according to the latest statistics. Naturally, more resources are being deployed to counter cyber attacks. That’s why I thought it would be helpful to sum up 10 cyber security facts that define the current information security landscape.

One of these essential facts is the estimated annual cost for cyber crime committed globally which has added up to 100 billion dollars! And don’t think that all that money comes from hackers targeting corporations, banks or wealthy celebrities. Individual users like you and me are also targets.

As long as you’re connected to the Internet, you can become a victim of cyber attacks.

So that’s why we wanted to walk you through some of the most shocking cyber security facts that you maybe wish you’d known until the present moment.

These will give you a much more accurate idea of how dangerous it really is to go online without proper protection.

  1. The most wanted cyber criminals in the world

On FBI’s Most Wanted List for cyber criminals you will currently find 19 individuals, each being responsible for consumer losses ranging from $350,000 to more than $100 million. They are from all over the world and huge rewards are offered for their capture.

  1. The most expensive computer virus of all times

Ever wondered how much damage a computer virus can do? Let us give you a compelling example through this next cyber security fact. MyDoom is considered to be the most expensive virus in the world and in cyber security history, having caused an estimated financial damage of $38.5 billion!

  1. Social media – a hackers’ favorite target

Currently, according to in depth statistics, there are more than 1.6 billion social network users worldwide with more than 64% of internet users accessing social media services online. Moreover, social networking is one of the most popular ways for online users to spend their time, and a preferred way to stay in contact with friends and families.

  1. 99% of computers are vulnerable to exploit kits

Cyber security fact: Oracle Java, Adobe Reader or Adobe Flash is present on 99% of computers. That means that 99% of computer users are vulnerable to exploit kits (software vulnerabilities).

Why? Because the vulnerabilities that these types of software often present are extremely critical: all it takes is one click on an infected advertising banner to give a hacker full access to your computer.

  1. Security warning: inside jobs

Maybe you’ll be surprised to find out that a shocking 59% of employees steal proprietary corporate data when they quit or are fired. But there are more types of insider threats to get protection.

  1. Social engineering – cyber criminals’ favorite way to manipulate victims

People are the weakest link when it comes to cyber security, which is why psychological manipulation of cyber attack victims is so common.

  1. Your government is making you more vulnerable

Cyber security fact: governments around the world are creating malware and using it as digital weapons or in espionage programs. In the past 5 years, more than a handful of government malware have been discovered (such as Stuxnet), but their origins have yet to receive full attribution.

  1. There is a real-time map that shows cyber attacks in action

Ever wondered how cyber attacks look at a global scale? Now you have the chance to do it with this real-time map put together by Norse.

  1. Hacktivism is the main motivation that drives cyber attacks

Hacktivism accounts for half of the cyber attacks launched in the world. The term represents a subversive use of computers and computer networks to promote a political agenda. With roots in hacker culture and hacker ethics, its ends are often related to the free speech, human rights, or freedom of information.

  1. 68% of funds lost as a result of a cyber attack were declared unrecoverable

Cyber crime is not only costly, but poses other problems as well for organizations worldwide.

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