Cybercriminals make use of new and old technology. You should be careful what USB devices you connect to your computer.
USB ports can be found in several other places besides the computer. Illustration picture. Ian Allenden / Alamy Stock Photo
Information security company Check Point saysthat malware distributed via USB devices has become a significant risk again.
– Old technologies, such as USB storage devices, have grown in popularity as messengers of malware, Vice President of Research at Check Point Software Maya Horowitz says.
An ordinary memory stick that you attach to your computer may already contain malware, so you should be especially careful about which devices you connect to your computer.
USB devices are used for criminal purposes by government actors and cybercriminals. Their targets are organizations all over the world.
According to the company’s report, weekly cyber attacks have increased by eight percent in the past three months.
– The growth is the largest in two years, the company’s report says.
In addition to the increased popularity of USB devices, data security risks have been caused by ransomware distributors, hacking activism (hacktivism) and misuse of artificial intelligence.
According to the report, 48 different groups have carried out ransomware attacks on more than 2,200 targets over the course of six months.
According to the company, the most victims have been in industry and retail.