Bots account for half of all web traffic
A new report from Imperva finds that 49.6 percent of all internet traffic came from bots in 2023, a two percent increase over the previous year, and the highest level since the company began monitoring automated traffic in 2013.
The proportion of web traffic associated with bad bots grew to 32 percent in 2023, up from 30.2 percent in 2022, while traffic from human users decreased to 50.4 percent. Automated traffic is costing organizations billions of dollars annually due to attacks on websites, APIs, and applications.
How AI is having an impact on software testing [Q&A]
Artificial intelligence is making its way into many areas of the tech industry, with the introduction of large language models making it much more accessible.
One of the areas where it's having a big impact is software testing, where it allows companies to provide better support to existing software teams and refocus their efforts on development.
Why the cybersecurity industry needs to re-frame the AI debate [Q&A]
Conversations around artificial intelligence and the threat it poses to humanity have been building for years. The launch of ChatGPT (or generative AI) nearly a year ago thrust the issue to the forefront of the global agenda.
Discussions have reached such a fever pitch that in April this year, technologists including Elon Musk signed an open letter begging AI teams to pause development. Despite it being widely condemned, the letter underscored how seriously the world is considering AI risks.
Organizations plan to invest in 'human-centered' software
A new survey shows that 76 percent of respondents consider building human-centric applications more important than it was two years ago, driven by a combination of business considerations and cultural shifts.
The survey, of over 700 application developers and IT decision-makers, from infrastructure software company Progress shows a gap between intentions and actions, however. 98 percent of respondents say human-centric app development is important, but only 34 percent are currently addressing the issue through tools, training and policy.
New Malwarebytes tool lets you see where your data is exposed
With so many data breaches having taken place it's almost inevitable that at least some of your personal information has been exposed online. But finding out exactly what can be tricky.
Malwarebytes is launching a new web portal that gives individuals deep visibility into their exposed personal information, so anyone can easily see where and when a breach compromised their data, types of data exposed, and specific personal data for sale on the dark web.
Large businesses struggle to tackle cyber threats
Large businesses are finding it significantly more difficult to manage their cybersecurity than their smaller counterparts, according to new research from passwordless authentication company IDEE.
Based on a survey of more than 500 IT and cybersecurity professionals within UK businesses, the data reveals that 74 percent of respondents from large businesses (more than 500 employees) believe it has become far more challenging to defend against cyber attacks since the Covid-induced rise of remote and hybrid working.
Women face exclusion from cybersecurity roles
A new report uncovers widespread gender disparities in the cybersecurity workplace, with women encountering exclusion at twice the rate of men.
The study -- from Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS), a non-profit organization dedicated to the recruitment, retention and advancement of women in cybersecurity, in conjunction with with DEI firm Aleria -- finds the top four categories of exclusion faced by women are: respect, career and growth, access and participation, and recognition.
Auto industry is prime target for email attacks
The automotive industry has become a popular target for business email compromise and vendor email compromise attacks, according to new research from Abnormal Security.
Between September 2023 and February 2024, BEC attacks against businesses in the automotive industry increased by 70.5 percent. Over the same period 63 percent of Abnormal Security customers in the automotive industry experienced at least one VEC attack.
Why you should worry more about SaaS than generative AI [Q&A]
There's a lot of talk at the moment about how the use of AI opens up businesses to additional risk. But is AI itself the issue or is it the way in which it's integrated with other applications?
We talked to Ran Senderovitz, chief operating officer of Wing Security, to discuss how enterprises need to re-prioritize their security to address the real attack surface, the SaaS apps that leverage AI.
Insider threats linked to nation states increase 70 percent
Insider threats are usually thought of as being down to disgruntled or careless employees, but a new report from risk management specialist DTEX finds insiders have never been more vulnerable to interference from nation state actors.
The report, by the DTEX Insider Intelligence and Investigations (i3) team, based on more than 1,300 investigations within DTEX's global customer base, finds investigations into insider threats from nation-states and foreign interference increased 70 percent since 2022, mainly within critical infrastructure and public sector.
Quantum threat highlights need for digital trust
With the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) expected to finalize post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards in the second half of 2024, a new report from Keyfactor explores the challenges that create barriers to building a strong foundation of digital trust.
It finds that only 23 percent of organizations have started work on PQC, with 36 percent expecting to start after the first release of standards later this year. Another 25 percent of organizations will begin implementing PQC when standards are finalized.
Malicious search engine ads drive latest phishing threat
New research from BlueVoyant shows the use of malicious search engine ads is on the rise and poses a significant threat to internet users and companies.
These ads can lead to phishing websites or malware downloads, putting personal, financial and corporate information at risk. For companies, a compromise via phishing can lead to brand reputation damage, financial loss, and loss of customer trust.
Businesses not prepared for AI-based attacks
A new survey of almost 1,800 security leaders and practitioners in 14 countries, finds 74 percent of respondents believe AI-augmented cyberthreats are already having a significant impact on their organizations, yet 60 percent believe they are currently unprepared to defend against these attacks.
The study from Darktrace shows 71 percent of respondents are confident that AI-augmented security solutions will be able to detect and block AI-augmented threats. However, only 26 percent fully understand which types of AI are used in their security stack today.
Is your zero trust program at risk of failure? [Q&A]
Zero trust is no longer a 'nice to have' for cybersecurity leaders. As organizations embrace hybrid and remote workforces, the volume of cyberattacks and data breaches involving unauthorized access to networks, applications and systems has surged.
In response, cybersecurity leaders are striving to adopt a zero trust approach to security to reduce the risk of data breaches, ransomware and insider threats. However, the success of these efforts are being undermined by a variety of factors.
Almost a quarter of consumers consider cybersecurity when choosing a bank
What factors do you take into account when choosing a bank? How good the interest they offer on your savings is perhaps? Whether there's a convenient branch nearby? How easy the website is to navigate? A new study shows that 23 percent of US and UK consumers say that a bank's approach to cybersecurity is a factor when they consider opening an account.
The research from CybSafe finds that 85 percent of customers feel it important that their bank offers training about staying safe online and avoiding scams to those who want it, with 42 percent of respondents stating that such measures are 'very important'.
Ian's Bio
Ian spent almost 20 years working with computers before he discovered that writing about them was easier than fixing them. Since then he's written for a number of computer magazines and is a former editor of PC Utilities. Follow him on Mastodon
© 1998-2025 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. About Us - Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy - Sitemap.