Mar/Apr 19 - ChannelVision Magazine

According to a new study from Symantec, ransomware infections against enterprises increased by 12 percent in 2018; supply chain attacks increased by 78 percent; and there was a 1,000 percent increase in malicious PowerShell scripts, which enable fileless mal- ware deployments. Cybercrime continues to be the scourge of large and small companies alike, with the latter group especially impacted most recently. A study from AppRiver, for instance, found that the majority of executives at U.S. SMBs are now more con- cerned about experiencing a major data breach than a fire, flood or physical break-in of their office. They have every reason to be worried, too – 60 percent of small businesses go out of business within six months of a cyberattack. For a long time, business leaders have been waiting for some sign that things will get easier in the struggle for cybersecurity. All signs indicate, however, that cybercrime is about to intensify. The Rise of Malicious AI We are approaching the point where artificial intelligence (AI) will most likely become weaponized, a development that will have serious repercussions for private and public sector organizations, as well as consumers. Cyber Patrol Wicked Smart T here have been some alarming developments in cybercrime during the last year. The era of AI-enabled cyberattacks is coming, and it won’t be pleasant By Garald Baldino 78 Channel Vision | March - April, 2019