Author Archive: Jastra_ilic

Weak Passwords Caused 30% of Ransomware Infections in 2019

Jastra_ilic January 20, 2020 0 Comments

Weak passwords caused 30% of Ransomware Attacks in 2019-PreciseSecurity.com

As one of the leading types of cyber-attacks, ransomware is expected to dominate cybercrime in 2020. According to PreciseSecurity.com research, weak passwords were one of the most common cybersecurity vulnerabilities in 2019, causing 30% of ransomware infections in 2019.

Weak Passwords Are the Third Most Common Ransomware Cause Globally

The recent PreciseSecurity.com research revealed that phishing scams caused more than 67% of ransomware infection globally during the last year. Another 36% of Mail Protection Service users reported ransomware attacks caused by the lack of cybersecurity training. Weak passwords were the third most common reason for ransomware infections globally in 2019.

The 30% share in the combined number of ransomware infections during the last years indicates a concerning level of password security awareness. The 2019 Google survey about beliefs and behaviors around online security showed that two in three individuals recycle the same password across multiple accounts. More than 50% admitted using one “favorite” password for the majority of the accounts. Only one-third of respondents knew how to define the password manager.

Only 12 % of US Online Users Take Advantage of Password Managers

The 2019 Statista survey reveals that 64% of US respondents find stolen passwords as the most concerning issue about data privacy. However, such a high level of concern didn’t affect their habits related to keeping track of login information.

According to the findings, 43% of respondents reported that their primary method of keeping track of their most crucial login information was to write it down. Another 45% of respondents named memorizing the login data as their primary method of tracking. At the same time, only 12% of US online users take advantage of password managers.

23.2 Million Victim Accounts Globally Used 123456 as Password

Using hard-to-guess passwords represent the first step in securing sensitive online information. However, according to the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre 2019 survey, password re-use and weak passwords still represent a significant risk for companies and individuals all over the world.

The breach analysis indicated that 23.2 million victim accounts from all parts of the world used 123456 as a password. Another 7.8 million data breach victims chose a 12345678 password. More than 3.5 million people globally picked up the word “password” to protect access to their sensitive information.

Global Cloud Kitchen Industry to Reach $2.3 Trillion Value by 2026

Jastra_ilic January 15, 2020 0 Comments

Global cloud kitchen industry-PreciseSecurity.com

The global online food ordering industry maintains its rapid growth with a CARG of 9.8 % in a year per year time. Also known as “cloud” or “ghost” kitchen, the dark kitchen industry has already produced a tremendous impact on the food and drink market and transformed the business model of many retailers worldwide. The expanding trend will continue in the following years with the US as the leading player globally. According to PreciseSecurity.com research, the global cloud kitchen industry is expected to reach $2.3 trillion value by 2026.

US Cloud Kitchen Market Expected to Generate $972 Billion Revenue by 2026

A dark kitchen is a restaurant that doesn’t provide dine-in or takeaway services to customers. It is primarily virtual and is reliant on food delivery apps, and website portal orders to generate sales.

The 2019 data show this type of food delivery industry in the US generated $336 billion profit. The numbers shouldn’t surprise considering that an average US household spends nearly $3.500 per year on away-from-home meals. According to the surveys, the overall US dark kitchen market revenue is expected to almost triple during the following years, and reach $972 billion value by 2026.

Europe is the Second Largest Dark Kitchen Market Globally

With the entire food delivery industry growing ten times faster than the traditional restaurant market, Europe will end in 2019 as the second-largest dark-kitchen region in the world. The surging popularity of companies like Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and DoorDash, has already encouraged many European restaurants to utilize the dark kitchen to decrease costs, boost revenue and speed-up the food delivery.

Compared with the US market, the European cloud kitchen industry generated 25 percent less profit in 2019 and will end the year with $253 billion in revenue. However, the recent surveys indicate that the overall industry profit is expected to reach $656 billion value over the next six years.

APAC Cloud Kitchen Market to Quadruple in the Next Six Years

Although the US will remain as the leading player on the global dark kitchen market, the APAC region will experience the most significant growth in the following years. That doesn’t surprise considering the culture of eating out which is present in the entire area. The 2019 surveys show that almost 27 percent of the people living in China dined out several times per week during this year, and nearly 19 percent of them did it at least once a week.

The Asia Pacific cloud kitchen market generated $198 billion profit in 2019, which is almost 40 percent less compared to the United States. Still, according to the surveys, the entire APAC cloud kitchen industry is expected to quadruple over the next six years and reach $699 billion value by 2026.

Information Security Technology Market to Reach $151.2 Billion Value by 2023

Jastra_ilic January 13, 2020 0 Comments

Information security technology market - PreciseSecurity.com

The growing range of security threats and requirements has forced companies and organizations from all over the world to intensify their investments in new safety solutions. According to PreciseSecurity.com research, the global information security market is expected to report a noticeable upward trend in the following years, resulting in a $151.2 billion revenue by 2023.

Security Services are Driving the Market Growth

The information security technology market includes security-related software, hardware, and services. The recent surveys show that the global market revenue reached $106.6 billion in 2019, which represents a 10.7% increase from the year before. According to the statistics, the entire information security technology market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.4% by 2023.

With more than $47 billion in spending in 2019, security services represent the most significant revenue stream. This segment of the market includes managed security services, integration, and consulting services, education, and training. It is expected to have the fastest spending growth with a five-year CAGR of 11.2%. The software was the second-largest revenue source, which generated almost $38 billion profit during the last year. With $21 billion in income in 2019, hardware spending was the third-largest revenue stream.

Banking Market Controls the Largest Security Budget Globally

Compared by markets, the banking industry is expected to spend the most on the security solutions in the following years, followed by discrete manufacturing and the federal government. The 2019 data show that these markets account for almost 30% of total security spending globally, with managed security services as their highest cost. The state and local government, telecommunications and the resource industries are expected to experience the fastest spending growth in the years to come.

With a $21 billion profit in 2019, managed security services were the most lucrative technology category globally, followed by network security hardware, integration services and endpoint security software. According to the statistics, the following years will bring intensified investments in security analytics, intelligence, response, and orchestration software, expected to grow by CAGR of 10.5% by 2023.

WannaCry Virus Was the Most Common Crypto Ransomware Attack in 2019

Jastra_ilic January 8, 2020 0 Comments

WannaCry ransomware attack-PreciseSecurity.com

As one of the biggest malware threats, ransomware continues to disturb the business operations and daily lives of internet users all over the world. According to PreciseSecurity.com research, 23.56 % of all encryption ransomware attacks during 2019 had encountered the WannaCry virus, making it the most ordinary type of hack in the last year.

WannaCry Attack Caused $4 Billion Damage Globally

The number of ransomware attacks against government agencies, organizations in the healthcare, energy sectors, and education continues to rise. While some simple ransomware may lock the system in a way that is not difficult for a knowledgeable person to reverse, more advanced malware exploits a technique called crypto-viral extortion.

WannaCry targets computers using Microsoft Windows as an operating system. It encrypts data and demands payment of a ransom in the cryptocurrency Bitcoin for its return. According to the estimates, the WannaCry ransomware attack hit around 230.000 computers globally, causing $4 billion in losses all over the world.

Most of the computer users became victims of the WannaCry virus because of not updating their Microsoft Windows. Therefore, updating software and operating system regularly is an essential ransomware protection step.

Tip: If you believe you’ve been affected by the Wannacry attack then read our malware scan and removal guide here.

Spam Emails Caused 67% of All Ransomware Infections in 2019

The 2019 data show that phishing scams were the most common cause of ransomware infection globally during the last year. More than 67% of MSP users reported ransomware attacks caused by spam and phishing emails. According to PreciseSecurity.com research, spam messages made 55 % of global email traffic during the last year, which explains the prevalence of this cause.

With a 36% share in the combined number of ransomware attacks during 2019, the lack of cybersecurity training was the second most common cause. Weak passwords led to another 30% of hacks. Poor user practices caused one-quarter of all ransomware attacks. Other ordinary reasons included malicious websites and clickbait.

Chrome for Android was the Most Popular Web Browser in 2019

Jastra_ilic January 7, 2020 0 Comments

Chrome for Android - PreciseSecurity.com

Billions of internet users globally are constantly searching for a faster and securer way to get online. According to PreciseSecurity.com research, the leading web browser globally as of December 2019 is Google’s Chrome for Android, which hit a 33% market share in the last year.

Asia is the Leading Region in Google Chrome Usage

Throughout the years, Google has firmly placed itself as the dominant player on the web. Besides managing the world’s most used search engine and web browser, the company also owns the most popular email service Gmail, and Google Maps as the most used GPS mapping system globally.

The recent surveys show that Chrome 78.0 was the second most popular browser in 2019, with 23.71 % market share, while Safari iPhone ranked third. Compared by the region, Asia took first place on the global Google Chrome usage list. Chrome for Android, as the most used browser in the area, marked a 44 % market share during the last year. With a 19.79 % share of the market, Chrome 78.0 ranked second, while Safari iPhone was the third most used browser in the Asian market in 2019.

Google Chrome for Android and Chrome 78.0 hold more than 50 % of the European market, as well. Only the North American region ended the year with a slightly different ranking. The statistics show that the most popular North American web browser in 2019 was Chrome 78.0, which marked a 22.67 % market share. The second most used web browser was Safari iPhone, which reported a 1.14 % higher market share than Chrome for Android.

Tip: Find the best Android antivirus software and iPhone antivirus apps here.

Firefox and Internet Explorer Marked a Huge Decrease in Market Share

The recent surveys show that Internet Explorer and Firefox have experienced massively reduced market share in previous years. One of the reasons for that is the expanding influence of Google Chrome. The other one is increased competition entering the global browser market. The statistics show that Firefox’s market share dropped down to 3.15 % at the end of 2019. The Internet Explorer ended the year with a 1.47 % share in the global web-browser market.

More than 30% of North Americans Used Dark Web Regularly in 2019

Jastra_ilic January 6, 2020 0 Comments

Dark web usage in 2019-PreciseSecurity.com

Regardless of its predominantly negative connotation, the increasing number of people have started using the dark web to keep their online activity hidden. According to PreciseSecurity.com research, North America is the most active region globally in this part of the internet. More than 30 percent of North Americans have used the deep web regularly during 2019.

North America is the Leading Region in Daily Usage of Dark Web

The dark web represents a network of untraceable online activity and websites on the internet that cannot be found using search engines. Accessing them depends upon specific software, configurations, or authorization. The 2019 survey showed that North America is the leading region in daily usage of the dark web.

The statistics indicate that 26 percent of North Americans admitted using the dark web daily. Another 7 percent of them accessed the deep net at least once a week.

Latin Americans ranked second on this list, with 21 percent of respondents visiting the dark web every day and 13 percent weekly. With 17 percent of citizens utilizing it every day, Europe took third place on the global deep net usage list. Another 11 percent of Europeans admitted to doing so at least once a week.

Anonymity and Privacy are the Leading Reasons for Using the Dark Web

The 2019 data showed online anonymity was by far the most common reason globally for accessing Tor and the dark web. Nearly 40 percent of respondents used the deep net during the last year to stay anonymous.

Another 26 percent of them claimed to use it to retrieve the usually unavailable content in their location. This reason is more ordinary in Middle Eastern, African, and BRICS countries. Other reasons include overcoming governmental censorships and protecting online privacy.

Nearly 25 percent of North Americans used the hidden web in 2019 to ensure their privacy from foreign governments. Another 38 percent of them named protecting the privacy from the internet companies as the leading reason for using the deep web.

Note: Find the best iPhone antivirus and Android antivirus apps here.

Nearly 50% of People Don’t Use Dark Web Because They don`t Know How to

The recent surveys revealed some interesting facts about the reasons why people don’t use VPN technologies like Tor to access the dark web. Nearly 50 percent of respondents globally stated that it is because they don’t know how to, while 45 percent of them have no reason for doing so. One in ten citizens views these technologies as unreliable, and only 13 percent of them appear to be concerned about perceptions that it is used by criminals.

Looking for the best antivirus or spy apps? Find more information here.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Makes Nearly 40% of All Cyber Attacks in 2019

Jastra_ilic December 23, 2019 0 Comments

Cyber-attacks have targeted nearly 75 percent of large companies across Europe and North America over the last twelve months. According to PreciseSecurity.com research, almost 40 percent of all cyber-attacks in 2019 was performed by using cross-site scripting, which is hackers’ favorite attack vector globally.

Challenge and Opportunity to Learn are Main Reasons for Hacking Companies

Cross-site scripting or XSS is a type of injection attack, in which malicious malware scripts are injected into trusted websites. Most of the XSS attacks are performed by using a web application to send malicious code, mostly in the form of a browser side script, to a different end-user. The statistics show SQL injection is the second most used attack vector globally, followed by fuzzing. However, the 2019 surveys revealed some interesting facts about the global hacker’s reasons for choosing the company to hack.

Note: Find the best malware scanning and removal tools here.

Nearly 60 percent of them named the challenge and the opportunity to learn as the primary reason for doing cyber-attacks. Forty percent of hackers perform the attacks because they simply like the company, while 36 percent of them want to test the security team’s responsiveness.

More than 72 Percent of Hackers Attack Websites

With 72.3 percent of all cyber-attacks happening on the websites, the 2019 data indicates this is the hackers’ favorite platform to perform attacks globally. Because of its massive user-base, WordPress is one of the prime targets of hackers, and 98 percent of WP platform vulnerabilities are related to plugins.

An application program interface (API) is the second most targeted platform with a 6.8 percent share in the global hacking incidents list. The statistics show that around 7 percent of hackers choose Android mobile and operating systems for performing attacks. Attacks aiming at downloadable software and the Internet make only 3.9 percent of all hacking incidents globally.

Learn more about how hackers can use spy software to spy on users in this guide here.

Spam Messages Make 55 % of Global E-mail Traffic in 2019

Jastra_ilic December 17, 2019 0 Comments

With more than half of the world population using e-mail, the total number of e-mail messages sent and received per day is expected to reach nearly 295 billion in 2019. According to PreciseSecurity.com research, spam messages account for more than half of that amount, making 55 percent of global e-mail traffic in this year.

China Generates More Than 20 Percent of Global Spam E-mails

The 2019 data show China generates 20.43 percent of all spam e-mails, which makes it the largest source of spam globally. During this year, 13.37 percent of global spam volume was created from IPs based in the United States.

With a 5.6 percent share, Russia ranked third on this list, followed by Brazil and France. Germany generated 2.95 percent of global spam volume, while countries like India, Turkey, Singapore, and Vietnam all hold around 2 percent share.

Global Annual Spam E-mail Rate Decreased by 14 Percent Since 2012

The recent surveys show that the worldwide annual spam e-mail rate has decreased by 14 percent over the last seven years. In 2012, it amounted to 69 percent and kept falling in the next three years. In 2015, the annual spam e-mail rate dropped to 53 percent on a global level. However, during the next two years, it moderately increased to 55 percent. In 2018, the combined number of e-mails sent and received per day reached more than 281 billion. Despite that, the total number of spam e-mails remained the same. Over the last three years, the annual spam e-mail rate kept the 55 percent share on the global level.

Germany is the Most Targeted Country by Malicious Spam E-mails

A significant part of spam messages is malicious, aiming to damage or hack the email’s user system. Some of the most ordinary types of malicious spam globally include spy software, trojans, and ransomware. The Q1 2019 statistics show that Germany accounted for 11.88 percent of all measured e-mail antivirus detections. With a 6.24 percent target rate, Vietnam ranked second on the list. Russia represents the third most-targeted country with a 5.70 percent share of all e-mail antivirus triggers.

Home Security Devices to Reach 307 Million Units by 2023

Jastra_ilic December 10, 2019 0 Comments

Home security devices-PreciseSecurity.com

The increasing number of consumers preferring a more effective and convenient way to secure their property has caused the rapid growth of the global smart home security market. According to PreciseSecurity.com research, the expanding trend will continue in the following years, with the worldwide shipment of home monitoring and security devices reaching more than 307 million units by 2023.

Home Monitoring and Security Devices Will Grow at CAGR of 18.4% in 2023

The global smart home devices market reached nearly 815 million units’ shipments this year. According to 2019 data, it is forecast to grow at a five-year CARG of 14.4% and reach 1.34 billion items in 2023.

The most significant part of that amount or 339.8 million units are coming from the video entertainment category alone. However, the surveys confirm that home monitoring and security devices are the sections expected to grow the most between 2019 and 2023.

In 2018, this segment of the market recorded 97.7 million sold units. During the next twelve months, the same part of the market reached 156.6 million purchased units. The recent surveys indicate that home monitoring and security equipment like smart locks, surveillance cameras, and video doorbells will account for 22.1% of the global smart home devices shipments in 2023 with a CAGR of 18.4%.

Smart Video Doorbells Expected to Reach $1.4 Billion in Spending by 2023

The statistics show that video doorbells are one of the most common purchasing decisions among smart home shoppers worldwide. This relatively young segment of the smart home market is forecast to reach $1.4 billion in spending globally by 2023.

Recent surveys show that video doorbells are most wanted smart home devices in U.S. broadband households as of 2019. Nearly 4 million video doorbells were sold in the United States during this year, with a forecast to reach 5.6 million units by 2023. Other ordinary items among U.S. smart home shoppers were smart speakers with voice assistants, smart light bulbs, and smart smoke detectors.

North American Smart Home Market to Reach $49.5 Billion by 2023

Jastra_ilic December 9, 2019 0 Comments

North America smart home systems-PreciseSecurity.com

With more than 40 million installed smart home systems at the end of this year, North America is the most advanced smart home market in the world. According to PreciseSecurity.com research, a strong upward trend is expected to continue in the following years, with market revenue reaching $49.5 billion by 2023.

More than 60 Million Homes in North America Will Be Smart by 2023

In 2012 the North American smart home market (including home security) reached $1.63 billion value and continued to grow in year-on-year time. In the next five years, the market enlarged more than six times and hit $9.9 billion worth, which was only the beginning of an even more significant expansion period.

Smart home market revenues reached $17.9 billion in 2017, an increase of an incredible 45 percent year-on-year. 2018 brought a 24.8 percent year-on-year increase with a $22.3 billion market value. The statistics show that the North American smart home market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.3 percent by 2023, reaching $49.5 billion in yearly income.

At the same time, the number of households that adopt smart home systems is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12.3 percent, resulting in 60.5 million smart homes by 2023 or 41 percent of all households in the region.

Point Solutions Generate the Most Significant Part of Market Revenue

Smart home systems can be divided into two major categories, whole-home systems and point solutions designed for specific in-home functionality. The 2019 data show that point solutions are, in most cases, the consumer’s first smart home purchase.

Divided by categories, global consumers spent $17.1 billion on control and connectivity products, making it the most significant type of smart home purchase. Security camera solutions generated nearly $16 billion in revenue. During 2019, the consumers all over the world spent almost $17 billion on smart appliances and another $16.3 billion on home entertainment and energy management devices.