Cyber criminals may target large corporations or those with significant financial assets. You might think that cybercriminals only target such firms with great assets.

Cyber criminals have been reported as targeting businesses of all types, from independent businesses to global conglomerates corporations, using botnets.

Have you heard about malicious botnets and are now wondering "what exactly is a botnet and why should it matter to me?" Cyber criminals use botnets as one of their key weapons against victims; these networks of compromised computers commanded by one malicious puppeteer can include everything from your desktop PC all the way down to your smart fridge - becoming cyber weapons against potential attacks!

According to a new report, botnet activity experienced dramatic spikes. Over one million devices participated in malicious activities - marking an exponential rise of 100x increase.

Researchers had previously identified up to 20,000 devices acting maliciously each day. But in December 2023 things quickly escalated when that figure rose to 35,144 before further increasing two weeks later to 43,194. That is an astonishing number of compromised devices!

Researchers observed an unprecedented simultaneous usage of 143,957 devices on January 5 and 6. On this date alone there were spikes that exceeded one million devices being utilized at once.

Why do they do it? By scanning the Internet for vulnerabilities in servers, websites and email systems.

Imagine the internet as a fortress with many doors and windows; cyber criminals look for open doorways to gain entry; they target specific "ports" as entry points to gain access.

How can you protect against cyber threats?

Strengthening windows and doors should be your top priority, here are a few steps that can be taken:

Maintain an up-to-date operating system, software, and applications; regular updates address many vulnerabilities. Protect your device with reliable antivirus and firewall protection software, as well as inform employees on cyber security best practices (e.g. refraining from clicking suspicious emails/links).
Use strong passwords across all of your devices and accounts. Regularly backup your data to protect yourself in case of cyber-attack, monitor network activity closely for unusual activity and hire a cyber security expert (we'd be the ones!) to evaluate and improve security measures.

Reach out if we can assist in safeguarding your business at 📞 (404) 932-5940 or 📩info@nuwaveitc.com