A report from WatchGuard Technologies, based in Seattle, has revealed businesses are suffering cybersecurity attacks ‘on all fronts’.
Its Internet Security Report for Q4 2020 reveals that fileless malware and cryptominer attack rates grew by nearly 900% and 25% respectively, while unique ransomware payloads plummeted by 48% in 2020 compared to 2019.
Additionally, the WatchGuard Threat Lab found that Q4 2020 brought a 41% increase in encrypted malware detections over the previous quarter and network attacks hit their highest levels since 2018.
“The rise in sophisticated, evasive threat tactics last quarter and throughout 2020 showcases how vital it is to implement layered, end-to-end security protections,” said Corey Nachreiner, Chief Technology Officer at WatchGuard.
“The attacks are coming on all fronts, as cybercriminals increasingly leverage fileless malware, cryptominers, encrypted attacks and more, and target users both at remote locations as well as corporate assets behind the traditional network perimeter.
“Effective security today means prioritizing endpoint detection and response, network defenses and foundational precautions such as security awareness training and strict patch management.”
WatchGuard Technologies is a global leader in network security and intelligence, multi-factor authentication (MFA), advanced endpoint protection and secure Wi-Fi.
WatchGuard’s quarterly Internet Security Reports inform businesses, their partners and end customers about the latest malware, endpoint and network attack trends as they emerge.
