Every day, criminals and groups linked to countries like Russia carry out as many as 600 million cyber-attacks worldwide. The figure has virtually doubled in only a year. Tech giant Microsoft recently highlighted the growing danger in its annual report. Belgium, in particular, seems to be a target of choice for cybercriminals.
A phishing email, fake QR codes or counterfeit websites: all over the world people are facing an increased threat due to cyber-attacks Microsoft says in its annual report . Every day, 600 million attacks are launched. The figure has more or less doubled in comparison with 2023. Only last year around 345 million cyber-attacks were carried out each day.
Bart Asnot, cyber expert for Microsoft Belgium and Luxembourg, sees 2 main types of cybercriminal groups behind the rise. ‘On the one hand, there is simply still a lot of money to be made from these attacks. On the other hand, we see more and more cybercriminals linked to countries like Russia, trying to interfere in elections,’ Bart told VRT.
From phishing to cloned voices
Microsoft's figures show that cybercriminals are mainly concentrating on password attacks. Some 7,000 per second take place. Last year, the figure was a ‘mere’ 4,000. Cybercriminals will use tools including phishing emails, fake websites or AI software and cloned voices to try to retrieve your password. Especially if you use the same login details everywhere, this can be dangerous.
Ransomware attacks are another common form of attack method. Criminals use so-called ‘ransom software’ to steal data or block computer systems. In both cases, they demand payment to return your data or unblock your hardware.
Earlier this year, it became clear that ransomware attacks are also on the rise in Belgium. Microsoft says that when criminals manage to carry out such attacks successfully, in 92 per cent of cases unattended devices are involved. These devices also include personal laptops used at your place of work.
In addition, Microsoft is also identifying new types of attacks. Cybercriminals are now starting to use QR codes to carry out phishing attacks. It’s ‘an emerging threat’ the tech giant notes. The code will take you to fake login pages and in this way the attackers can try to retrieve sensitive banking and login data.
Belgium is increasingly popular
Even more than in recent years, Microsoft is now noticing that cybercriminals and foreign powers including Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are trying to attack critical sectors overseas. Governments, IT and infrastructure are particularly popular targets. Belgium, in fact, is one of the countries that cybercriminals are choosing to attack more than most!
‘It is not illogical,’ Bart points out. ‘Belgium is located at a central point in Europe. It hosts the headquarters of the western military NATO as well as many European Union institutions. Belgium's crucial geopolitical role makes it a prime target for cyber espionage and operations intended to influence decision-makers.’
A latest example was the tsunami of DDoS attacks by the pro-Russian hackers’ group NoName057 last October. For 2 weeks, Belgian websites including those of the Flemish Parliament, several cities and media were attacked. In such attacks servers are overloaded with requests, making them inaccessible to real users. Hackers cannot steal data in such attacks making them more harmless than most. The aim of these attacks was probably to create concern ahead of the local and provincial elections on 13 October.
How can you improve your protection against cyber-attacks? Bart Asnot offers some tips:
Difficult passwords: choose a word or phrase using a combination of letters, numbers and punctuation marks.
Vary passwords: make it difficult for hackers by choosing a different password for each account.
Use two-step verification: you then log in via two steps. Besides your password, you may have to verify your identity via text or fingerprint.
Update your computer(s) and mobile devices and activate protection software: updates always contain security improvements that actively protect you against possible cyber-attacks.