Page 7 - Cybersecurity Career Guide, 4th Edition

SOURCE: STATISTA
Shielding Our Social Sites
Last year, some Instagram users received a message claiming that a post of theirs was guilty of copyright infringement. They were further instructed to go to a link in the message to resolve the issue, where they were then asked to enter their Instagram login information. Of course, the message was really from a cybercrime gang. And users who followed the instructions ended up making their accounts fully accessible to the hackers who promptly changed people’s pass- words and usernames. Then, the hackers asked for ransom payments in exchange
for access to the account, in amounts as high as $40,000. Six months later, hack- ers struck again, this time with a phish- ing attack. Victims received an email notification that their account was eli- gible for the coveted “blue badge,” pend- ing confirmation of all their information at a “badge form” link. The scam worked to create urgency in targets’ minds, warn- ing users the verification process would expire within 48 hours. Many willingly gave up their private information. Last year, Instagram rolled out a new security feature meant to help users secure com- promised accounts and kick out hackers — yet the phishing attacks continue.
Keeping Our
Drinking Water Safe
Several states issued alerts to water systems in early 2021 after an incident in Oldsmar, Florida, in which a hacker attempted to raise the level of sodium hydroxide — used to remove metals and control acidity in drinking water — to poisonous levels. The compound, also known as lye, is the main ingredient
in liquid drain cleaner and can cause severe damage to the respiratory and digestive system. The hack came to light in real time as the system’s plant operator noticed the cursor on his computer moving around on its own. He swiftly undid the changes. The breach came on the heels of an intrusion into
a San Francisco Bay Area plant by a hacker using a former employee’s login to delete programs used to treat water.
Any device connected to the internet is vulnerable to cyberattacks.
So, how many devices are connected to the internet?
14.4 billion
This number is set to explode in the coming years as internet consumption rises. By 2030, there could be 25 billion connected devices.
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