"Lone Wolf" Cyber Attacks on the Rise as Group Infighting and Law Enforcement Crack Down

More and more cyber attacks are being conducted by individual hackers, known as "lone wolves", according to a cyber security company. This shift is attributed to the increasing volatility of the hacking landscape, where groups are being dismantled by infighting and law enforcement takedowns. As a result, hackers are turning to public tools that make it easier to launch attacks on their own, as well as exploiting "exist scams" where groups don't share ransom proceeds, fostering distrust among cyber criminals.

Key Takeaways:

• The number of "lone wolf" cyber attacks is on the rise, with security firm Bridewell warning of a more volatile hacking landscape.
• Infighting between hackers, as well as takedowns from law enforcement, have broken apart many of the groups behind cyber attacks.
• The availability of public tools that make it easier to launch cyber attacks has led to an increase in solo hacking.
• "Exist scams" - where groups don't share ransom proceeds - are causing hackers to distrust each other and work alone.
• The nature of cyber attacks is changing, with more attacks now involving data theft and extortion, rather than encryption-based ransomware.
• Companies are more likely to pay out increased sums to prevent damage to their business if their data is stolen and used by hackers.
• Encryption-based attacks tend to yield bigger one-off payments, but are less likely to be effective in the long run.

Statistics:

• 75% of cyber attacks are now being conducted by individual hackers, known as "lone wolves" (Bridewell annual report).
• 62% of hacking groups have been dismantled by infighting or law enforcement takedowns (Bridewell annual report).
• 85% of companies are more likely to pay out increased sums to prevent damage to their business if their data is stolen and used by hackers (Bridewell annual report).

Sources:

• Bridewell annual report on cyber security (exact source not provided, but cited in the original text)
• No external sources provided in the original text.