Top 6 2016 Data Security Predictions
Online security did not fare well in 2015, because of the out of the ordinary Cybersecurity breaches that were recorded. Cyberpunks did put their skills at work and they successfully unveiled the names along with credit card details of thirty three million individuals who repeatedly visited Ashley Madison (online cheating website).
According to research, it is unbelievably easy to remotely control an automobile over the web. Reports also revealed that CIA director (John Brennan) had his private email account hacked by a teenager. In brief, that was what transpired in 2015 among other events as far as cyber security is concerned. The following are our 2016 data security predictions.
- Cyberpunks will Target Transportation & Electricity Infrastructure
Hackers have expanded their activities profoundly due to the fact that Cybersecurity systems of government entities, major corporations and major banks remain deeply flawed. Our first prediction is that hacks that were only taking place in large nation states will start occurring in small nation states. Hacks will also be conducted at length by loose political organizations along with organized crime groups.
An attack launched by either of these entities will target critical infrastructures using means designed to inflict maximum damage against their targeted asset. Hackers will seek to extort people, organizations and gain publicity through their underhanded methods. These hacks will focus on critical infrastructure, including transportation and electricity. We anticipate these hacks, due to the fact that information security is basically non-existent at the most important levels of transportation and electricity infrastructure.
- The Internet of Things Will Be Disastrous
The Internet of Things is a successful path to a smart world with omnipresent computing as well as networking.It aims at making different tasks easier for users and provides other tasks, including easy monitoring of different phenomena. With ubiquitous computing, technology will be embedded everywhere and in every object and programmed to operate remotely with no manual triggering.
It is certain that most people across the globe will buy smart thermostats, home CCTV systems and networked fridges to mention a few. The only thing that most consumers fail to consider is the security and privacy state of digital consumer goods, which is horrible. We predict more Cybersecurity flaws in digital consumer goods this year. Mainly because privacy and security in these goods are complicated by the following factors: drive to accumulate big data, remote access capabilities, and pressure for manufacturers to monetize through advertising.
- A Big Bank Will Be Hacked
It is quite surprising to see that banks are still surviving the frequented data breaches, yet they do not have sophisticated and up-to-the-minute security measures as those of Facebook, Google and Apple. Major financial intuitions, such as banks, are easy targets for cyberpunks due to the following reasons: their systems are always on, giving hackers more time to put their skills at work; and they depend on outdated systems and they fail to secure young talent to assist with contemporary information security.
Social engineering proves to be a big threat to financial institutions as far as telephone banking along with compulsory weak passwords is concerned. Banks have a hard time with IT developments, because of obsolete and complicated legal restrictions and the lack of https. The abovementioned situations make banks easy targets for criminal gangs and well-funded nation states. With all these flaws in financial instructions, we predict that a big bank will be hacked in 2016.
- Encryption will Become More Prevalent in the Future
While encryption is the exception, not the rule, it is likely that encryption will become more predominant in the future. This is clearly seen with the messaging platform, where the use of cryptography has increased significantly. We predict that Apple and Whatsapp will never stop using encryption in their systems. On the other, Facebook and Google will keep on observing how uncomfortable their users are as far sharing private chats with governments and organizations is concerned.
In addition, the UK government may end up pushing a ban of encryption systems. However, in the globalized and connected world; the increased use of encryption systems will confirm the following: encryption works, encryption is necessary for a safe internet, and encryption safeguards our civil freedom of choice. It is more likely that: major browsers may flag all non-https connections to be insecure; and Facebook Messenger gets encrypted by default after merging with Whatsapp.
- Mesh Networks Join the Spotlight and Become Mainstream
So far, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have taken advantage of the ambiguities in the EU net neutrality laws. This has allowed them to legally place limits on the connection speeds of specific internet service operators. In fact Verizon was caught on the act using super-cookies to spy on their users. Consequently, telecom monopolies vowed to develop a cheaper as well as faster internet. We predict the end of large Internet Service Providers.
The future we anticipate is free of large ISPs and the internet is virtually as well as physically decentralized. Regions that the internet is too pricy, limited or censored will definitely receive high-speed internet access, because individuals and companies will develop and bring into use the next generation of networking equipment. The most definitive internet freedom developments that can take place in 2016 include: breakthroughs in commercial spaceflight and the introduction of the first Bitcoin router.
- Another Shocking Surveillance Whistleblower
Surveillance whistleblowing has reached unprecedented levels in the present world. Our awareness of this specific fact is in no small part, because of the actions of people such as Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning. With respect to the abovementioned whistleblowers, surveillance whistleblowing is justified at best to the extent that it conserves the conditions under which a democratic government maintains its legitimacy.
The public is continuously informed about the science of encryption and improved anonymity. In this computing age, people can easily learn how to put to use privacy tools, such as SecureDrop, Tor and PGP. This allows them to communicate in complete privacy. The power achieved through privacy tools has motivated people to unearth the transgressions of government bodies, large corporations and powerful people, who will do anything to hide their crimes from the public. Predicting the next surveillance whistle blower is impossible, but you never know what 2016 has in store for the public. Be sure to protect your data security in 2016 by using a protected internet connection with such tool as VPN.
