BlackBerry Annual Threat Report Uncovers Growing Shared Economy in Cyber Criminal Underground

Rhea-AI Summary

BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB) revealed findings from its 2022 Annual Threat Report, emphasizing a rise in cyberattacks targeting small to mid-sized businesses. The report highlights small businesses facing up to 11 cyberthreats daily and the trend of outsourcing among cybercriminals, which contributed to significant ransomware incidents. Additionally, it points out that public cloud platforms are increasingly being used to host malware. The report calls for a stronger adoption of Zero Trust security practices across sectors to mitigate these evolving threats.

Positive

• Continued focus on cybersecurity solutions by BlackBerry to address rising threats.
• Insights from the report could position BlackBerry as a thought leader in cybersecurity.

Negative

• Small businesses increasingly targeted, indicating a growing threat environment.
• Cybercriminal outsourcing suggests resource allocation issues for cybersecurity measures.
• Public cloud platforms hosting malware raise concerns about security vulnerabilities.

Collaborative cybercriminal mindset accelerating attacks on small to mid-sized businesses in 2022, leading to more closed doors

WATERLOO, ON, Feb. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) today released the 2022 BlackBerry Annual Threat Report, highlighting a cybercriminal underground which has been optimized to better target local small businesses. The report also uncovers cyber breadcrumbs from some of last year's most notorious ransomware attacks, suggesting some of the biggest culprits may have simply been outsourced labor.

"Criminals are working out how to target us better. The infrastructure of the cyber underground has evolved so they can deliver more timely and personalized deceptions to the public," said Eric Milam, Vice President of Research and Intelligence, BlackBerry. "This infrastructure has also incubated a criminal shared economy, with threat groups sharing and outsourcing malware allowing for attacks to happen at scale. In fact, some of the biggest cyber incidents of 2021 look to have been the result of this outsourcing."

Key findings of the 2022 BlackBerry Annual Threat Report include:

• Small businesses are an increasing focus of attack: Small businesses will continue to be an epicenter for cybercriminal focus as SMBs facing upward of 11 cyberthreats per device per day, which only stands to accelerate as cybercriminals increasingly adopt collaborative mindsets.
• Public cloud platforms are unwittingly hosting malware: An increasing number of payloads are being housed in public cloud platforms. The majority of these payloads are highly malleable, meaning they can be cheaply customized. This trend was especially prevalent in North America, where local hosting of vicious payloads including Cobalt Strike surged.
• 2021's biggest attacks may have been outsourced: In multiple incidents BlackBerry identified threat actors leaving behind playbook text files containing IP addresses and more, suggesting the authors of this year's sophisticated ransomware are not the ones carrying out attacks. This highlights the growing shared economy within the cyber underground.
• What's old is new – with a twist: The proliferation of digital channels has brought old tactics – such as phishing and watering hole attacks – back into the mainstream, primarily because of their ability to scale. This suggests these tactics will continue to see relevance as digital innovations like the metaverse and increased AR solutions come to market.

Following in the footsteps of the Biden Administration's recently rolled out Zero Trust strategy, widespread adoption of a Zero Trust mentality and a frictionless approach to security for end users is imperative across all sectors. With damage from the SolarWinds scandal still lingering, this path forward shows that the government is looking ahead to how existing tactics will be leveraged in the new year alongside of potential new risks in quantum computing, the metaverse, connected vehicles and beyond, while removing barriers to Zero Trust adoption.

To learn more, download a copy of the 2022 BlackBerry Threat Report.

About BlackBerry
BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments around the world.  The company secures more than 500M endpoints including over 195M vehicles.  Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the company leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety and data privacy solutions, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint management, endpoint security, encryption, and embedded systems.  BlackBerry's vision is clear - to secure a connected future you can trust.

BlackBerry. Intelligent Security. Everywhere. 

For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow @BlackBerry.

Trademarks, including but not limited to BLACKBERRY and EMBLEM Design are the trademarks or registered trademarks of BlackBerry Limited, and the exclusive rights to such trademarks are expressly reserved.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.  BlackBerry is not responsible for any third-party products or services.

Media Contact:
BlackBerry Media Relations
+1 (519) 597-7273
mediarelations@BlackBerry.com

 

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SOURCE BlackBerry Limited

FAQ

What does the 2022 BlackBerry Annual Threat Report reveal about cyber threats?

The report indicates that small businesses face increasing cyber threats, averaging 11 per device daily, with a trend of outsourcing among cybercriminals.

How are public cloud platforms being affected according to BlackBerry's report?

The report highlights that public cloud platforms are unwittingly hosting malware, raising concerns about security vulnerabilities.

What is the significance of outsourcing in cybercriminal activities mentioned in the report?

The report suggests that many major cyber incidents in 2021 appeared to be the result of outsourced attacks, showcasing a shared economy among threat actors.

What security approach does BlackBerry recommend in response to the findings?

BlackBerry recommends adopting a Zero Trust security mentality across all sectors to counter evolving cyber threats.

What implications does the report have for small businesses and their cybersecurity?

The report warns that small businesses are becoming a primary target for cybercriminals, necessitating improved cybersecurity measures to protect against growing threats.