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The number of internet-connected devices across the globe has risen significantly since the pandemic began last year
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This has led to a proliferation in cybercrimes targeted at inexperienced, first-time users
Russian-origin cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has been quoted by local reports as saying that more than one out of every three cyberattacks in Bahrain in the first half of 2021 happened to corporate firms.
It explained that while the number of malware attacks of the financial persuasion decreased during H1 2021 as compared to H1 2020, 36.8% of the 523 attacks were aimed at corporate entities and their employees.
With the world working from and learning indoors since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, the number of internet-connected devices across the globe has risen significantly.
This has led to a proliferation in cybercrimes targeted at inexperienced, first-time users, and sometimes even experienced ones.
The Kaspersky observation seems to continue in the same vein.
Kaspersky security researcher Oleg Kupreev was quoted by the local reports as saying: “As local businesses have continued to adjust to remote work scenarios and the rest of the circumstances surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, we have continued to witness cybercriminals using this to their advantage, exploiting the situation however they can.”
He added: “When considering such statistics, we believe it is evident that cybercriminals are more commonly targeting unsuspecting corporate users in Bahrain as a way to compromise corporate systems.”
The reports quoted Kupreev as further saying: “It is especially financial phishing that has become one of the most popular tools used by cybercriminals to make money. It does not require much investment or technical expertise from a hacker and can be propagated quickly.”
He explained: “In most cases, successful scammers win access either to the victim’s money or data that can be sold or otherwise monetized.”
US-origin cybersecurity firm McAfee estimated earlier this year that the world loses close to $1 trillion to cybercrimes every year.