Did the cybersecurity stakes get even higher in 2021?


Phishing is the jumping off point for many successful scams and ransomware attacks, with one email fraud incident costing a New Hampshire town US$2.3mil (RM9.7mil). — Technology vector created by freepik - www.freepik.com

In 2021, cybersecurity got more serious. Already a growing threat, ransomware exploded, with attacks becoming more frequent and costly. The volume of ransomware attacks against US targets rose 185% year over year in the first half of 2021, according to Internet security solutions provider SonicWall. Criminals also leaned hard on double extortion and turned their efforts against organisations like food supplier JBS and Colonial Pipeline, where system interruptions wouldn't just harm the victim and their clients, but also a broad swath of society.

Federal response got more serious, too, homing in on defending critical infrastructure, and states haven't sat on the sidelines, either. Several moved to ban ransom payments and direct more resources toward defending against the threats, although researchers say fully tackling the problem requires national and international coordination.

Unlock 30% Savings on Ad-Free Access Now!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM9.73 only

Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month
RM8.63/month

Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters.

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Tech News

How screen use can be a vicious cycle for some children and adolescents
Adobe raises annual forecasts on steady adoption of AI-powered tools
Google sues LATAM Airlines in US over Brazilian YouTube video dispute
Coinbase to launch CFTC-compliant perpetual futures trading in US
Tesla to take Japan virtual power plant business nationwide, Nikkei reports
Google says it has resolved global service outage impacting multiple platforms
Aircraft startup JetZero to invest $4.7 billion over a decade in North Carolina HQ
Temasek joins Microsoft, BlackRock and MGX to develop AI infrastructure
Barbie-maker Mattel teams up with OpenAI, eyes first AI-powered product this year
Telus offers to fully own digital unit for greater control of AI capabilities

Others Also Read