Beware of IoT Malware!

?

IoT Malware in 2023

IoT Malware Jumps by More than a Third In the first six months of 2023, SonicWall Capture Labs threat researchers recorded 77.9 million IoT malware attacks, up 37% year to date and higher than any other six-month period on record. This total not only exceeds the midyear total of 2022 by more than 20 million, it also exceeds the full-year total for both 2020 and 2021, and is more than 2018 and 2019 combined. This record half was fueled by high attack volumes in Q1, followed by abnormally high attack volumes in Q2. When the monthly total for April reached 14.7 million, it set a new record — but in May, attack volumes nearly doubled, surpassing the 20-million mark for the first time and resulting in a second[1]straight record-breaking quarter.

?

IoT Malware by Region Cybercriminals spent the first half of 2023 shifting their sights away from North America, and IoT malware was no exception: While the region still saw the highest overall attack volume, it was also the only one to experience a decrease, falling 3% to 32.2 million. Meanwhile, a corresponding increase was occurring in Europe, Latin America and Asia. In Europe, first-half attack volume reached 12.1 million, an increase of 10% year-to-date. But it was Latin America and Asia that saw the biggest growth: In Latin America, IoT malware increased 164% to 8.5 million, and in Asia, attack volume soared to 23 million, an increase of 170%. The by-country data followed the same general trends as the regional data: The U.S. saw a 2% drop, bringing attack volume to 30.4 million, and the U.K. (up 53% to 4 million) and India (up a staggering 311% to 19.4 million) also fell in line with regional patterns. Only Germany bucked the trend: IoT attacks there dropped 30 percent, to 1.3 million attacks. IoT Malware by Industry Despite an overall increase in IoT malware, all but one of the industries we studied experienced a double-digit drop in the first half of 2023. Government and education both saw a steep decline of 73%, followed by a 70% decrease in finance and a 60% drop in healthcare. Only the retail industry saw an increase: SonicWall observed a 13% jump in attacks on these customers compared with the first six months of 2022.

?

Malware in 2023

?

Malware Continues Its Migration During the first six months of 2023, SonicWall Capture Labs threat researchers recorded 2.7 billion malware attempts globally, down just 2% from the 2.8 billion observed during the same time period in 2022. But while the year-to-date change was essentially flat, the trend line was anything but. While there were both peaks and valleys as the first half wore on, the direction was decidedly upward — leading to a June monthly volume of 576 million. Not only was this 46% higher than the 395 million hits observed in January, it was also the highest monthly malware total recorded since March 2020

?

Malware By State A look at malware volume rankings by state shows that cybercriminals are shifting targets here, too. The state with the highest malware volume last year, Florida, fell all the way to No. 4 this year. No. 2 California moved up into the top position, No. 3 New York fell to No.7, No. 4. Illinois is now No. 2, and No. 5 Texas is the new No. 3. But while all of last year’s top 5 found themselves on this year’s list, most of the other states from the 2022 Top 10 did not: Minnesota, Rhode Island, South Carolina and New Jersey all fell off the list, and were replaced by Ohio, Georgia, Tennessee and Michigan

?

But as we saw with the country-specific data, larger malware volumes don’t necessarily predispose an area to higher malware spread percentages. In fact, none of the top-ten states for volume also made the top-ten for malware spread. So if none of the top ten states for volume are the riskiest in terms of malware, which state is? Once again, it’s Kansas, where 12.6% of SonicWall sensors registered a malware attempt. Fortunately for those in the Sunflower State, however, this continues to fall: from 26.7% in 2020, to 21.4% in 2021, to 18.7% in 2022. At the other end of the malware spread spectrum was Maine, where only 7.4% of sensors logged a malware attempt

?

Malware by Industry While malware was down slightly overall, this wasn’t the case in any of the industries we studied. In fact, malware was one of three threat categories in which every industry we looked at experienced an increase in malware volume. (The other two were cryptojacking and encrypted threats.) But while these industries shared that in common, the similarities ended there — outcomes ranged from a near-negligible uptick to a near-tripling in attack volume. Government: Government customers saw the smallest year-to-date increase out of the industries listed here, with volumes creeping up just 2%. An average of 11.3% of government customers were targeted by a malware attack each month. Retail: Retail customers ended June with the second-lowest malware volume, and also experienced the second-lowest increase: Attacks on these customers jumped 39% over the first six months of 2022. Roughly 9% of retail customers saw an attack each month. Finance: So far in 2023, customers working in finance have experienced a 59% overall increase in malware volume. An average of 10% of these customers were targeted in a given month. Healthcare: While customers working in healthcare ended June with the second-highest malware attack volume, they saw a slightly smaller increase of 46% year to date. Approximately 10% of healthcare customers saw an attack each month. Education: In the first six months of 2023, education customers saw a staggering 179% increase in attack volume compared with the same time period in 2022. These customers were also the most likely to see an attack: An average of 16.6% were targeted every month. It’s worth noting that the malware trends we’re seeing in education are the result of two disparate trends. Higher education actually saw a decrease in malware attempts in the first half of the year, bringing their total attack volume down 42%. But this was more than offset by a massive spike in malware among K-12 organizations, which saw a staggering 466% increase in attacks year to date

Protect Your IoT Devices Now!

As per recent reports, there was a 37% YoY increase in IoT malware attacks recording up to 77.9 million. Don't wait for malware to damage your devices, you can take action and secure your devices now with our expert team. Don't risk the safety of your industry or state. Contact us today and take the necessary measures to keep your devices safe from cybercriminals.

Join us at the SOS Small Business Summit!

Are you looking to connect with like-minded business professionals, gain valuable insights, and be part of meaningful conversations? Look no further! The SOS Small Business Summit is coming to town, and you don't want to miss it.

Topics Covered:

Cybersecurity: Learn how to protect your business from online threats and keep your sensitive data secure.

Health: Discover strategies to promote wellness in the workplace and prioritize the well-being of your employees.

Community Service: Explore the power of giving back and discover how community involvement can benefit both your business and the local community.

The Current Situation of the USA: Stay informed about the latest trends, policies, and economic landscape to navigate your business successfully.

Date: September 27th 10:00AM - 02:00PM

Location: BBB of Utah

3703 W. 6200 S Salt Lake City, UT 84129

Why Attend the SOS Small Business Summit?

Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry experts, fellow business owners, and professionals who share your passion for success. Forge valuable connections that can open doors to new collaborations and opportunities.

Expert Speakers: Gain insights from renowned speakers who are leaders in their fields. Learn directly from their experiences, expertise, and success stories.

Interactive Workshops: Participate in engaging workshops designed to provide practical knowledge and skills that you can implement directly into your business.

Q&A Sessions: Have burning questions? Take advantage of the Q&A sessions to get answers from industry experts and gain clarity on topics that matter to you.

Resourceful Exhibitors: Discover a variety of resources and services that can support your business growth. Explore booths and interact with exhibitors offering innovative solutions.

Lunch Provided and Raffle drawings!

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the SOS Small Business Summit! Register today?here?and secure your spot. Take a proactive step towards enhancing your business, connecting with like-minded individuals, and staying ahead in today's competitive market.

Our Speakers

Trent Staggs

Riverton Mayor

Dr. Michael Brown

Owner, Awaken Chiropractic

Amanda Millerberg

Community Service Leader

We look forward to seeing you at the summit!

Register here!