Work in one of these 10 industries? Scammers are targeting you

January 9, 2023

By Kim Komando

Any Komando.com reader knows that antivirus software is essential for your computer, but that’s not the only device you should be protecting. Smartphone cyberattacks are becoming increasingly common. Tap or click here for tips on shielding your iPhone and Android from the countless threats out there.

Cyberattacks of all kinds are on the rise and show no signs of slowing down. Numerous industries are being targeted all over the world, with some being hit much harder than others.

Who’s the most vulnerable? What can you do to protect yourself? Read on for everything you need to know.

Here’s the scary situation

According to a report from Check Point Research, global cyberattacks were up 38% in 2022 compared to 2021. That number is even higher for the U.S. alone, at 57% higher. Hackers are becoming more sophisticated — and more evasive, by breaking up into smaller groups to avoid getting caught.

Threat actors are also launching phishing campaigns involving collaboration tools like Slack, Teams, OneDrive and Google Drive, which are seeing increased use due to people still working remotely.

The pandemic has contributed to the rise in cyberattacks in other ways, too. As educational institutions hastily shifted to virtual classrooms, they inadvertently created new doorways for hackers. On top of that, the students themselves used their own devices and connected to unsecured networks, exacerbating the problem.

When it comes to the healthcare industry, hospitals are seen as lacking in resources to protect against cyberattacks — especially the smaller institutions. Hospital records are a treasure trove of information. Health insurance, medical record numbers and Social Security numbers provide plenty of ammunition for ransomware attacks.

Here are the top 10 average numbers of weekly cyberattacks in 2022, with the percentage increase from 2021 in parentheses:

• Education/Research: 2,314 (+43%)
• Government/Military: 1,661 (+46%)
• Healthcare: 1,463 (+74%)
• Communications: 1,380 (+27%)
• Internet Service Provider/Managed Service Provider: 1,372 (+28%)
• Finance/Banking: 1,131 (+52%)
• Utilities: 1,101 (+48%)
• Insurance/Legal: 957 (+47%)
• Manufacturing: 950 (+36%)
• Leisure/Hospitality: 943 (+60%)

Security researchers are warning about the dangers of AI technology contributing to the rise of attacks, too. The chatbot ChatGPT is capable of writing code and phishing campaigns at a faster pace than humans alone. Tap or click here for more details on how this AI tool is being manipulated by hackers and scammers.

What you can do to protect yourself

Prevention is key when it comes to cybersecurity. Here are some tips to follow at all times:

• Safeguard your information — Never give out personal data if you don’t know the sender of a text, chat or email or can’t verify their identity.
• Always use 2FA — Use two-factor authentication for better security whenever available. Tap or click here for details on 2FA.
• Be wary of links and attachments — Don’t click on links or attachments you receive in unsolicited emails or messages. They could be malicious, infect your device with malware and steal sensitive information.
• Use strong, unique passwords — Don’t use personal information in your passwords and never use the same one twice. Tap or click here for 10 essential password rules.
• Beware of phishing emails — Scammers piggyback on breaches by sending malicious emails to trick you into clicking their links that supposedly have important information. Look out for strange URLs, return addresses and spelling/grammar errors.
• Antivirus is vital — Always have a trusted antivirus program updated and running on all your devices. We recommend our sponsor, TotalAV. Right now, get an annual plan with TotalAV for only $19 at ProtectWithKim.com. That’s over 85% off the regular price!

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