Hackers Find New Avenues for Attacks Via Developing Nations

Hackers are on the lookout for new ways to attack, and now it looks like developing nations may be a favored conduit.

As noted by The New York Times, some sophisticated attacks are surfacing, and they show bells and whistles such as artificial intelligence.  In one example, malicious software is being traced to India, where once it would have been more readily housed in the United States.  Looking for new hotbeds of innovative malfeasance?  Go beyond the West, young cybersleuth.

The cybersecurity company known as Darktrace has found that, as Nicole Eaagan, CEO said, “India is a place where newer A.I. attacks might be seen for the first time, simply because it is an ideal testing ground for those sorts of attacks.”  The combination of what the Times said is advanced technology and “more susceptible victims” is an alluring one.  Here’s a study in contrasts: U.S. firms will have several lines of defense with products deployed from several vendors, while companies in other countries will have next to none.

And success breeds copycats:  Symantec has seen that the 2016 attack that made off with $81 million from the Bangladesh central bank – traced, allegedly, to North Korea – has spawned replicated attacks on more than 30 other countries.

Other “testing grounds” encompass Africa and Southeast Asia, where cyberfirms will find new malware variants. As Allan Liska, senior threat intelligence analyst at Recorded Future said, they are marked by high-speed Internet access.  “For several years, Taiwan and South Korea have been proven testing grounds for some of the more advanced groups in China,” Liska told the Times. “Those countries have high-speed Internet, widespread Internet penetration and not a lot of security infrastructure in place  We see a pattern among the attackers. They test something, make improvements, and then six weeks later test again before launching it at their true targets.”