The main cybersecurity challenges this year will be new viruses in emails, phishing campaigns, vulnerable end-to-end devices, as well as the growth of e-commerce and longer and more powerful attacks.

This is evidenced by the forecasts of cybersecurity experts of Tet (Lattelecom Group), which provides services of cloud technology, cybersecurity, GDPR-audit, and other IT solutions.

In 2020, Tet prevented 2,400 a distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS attack) and blocked 140,000 infected emails, which is 50% more than a year earlier.

Analyzing the statistics of 2020, we see that the “pandemic” was observed in cyberspace, as the number of both viruses and attacks has increased.

According to Tet, the largest increase in DDoS attacks was observed in the second quarter of 2020 – during the first emergency – says Uldis Libietis, head of IT security Tet.

He emphasizes that DDoS attacks become longer – if once they lasted tens of minutes, now – a few hours and are repeated. Due to the growth of e-commerce and dependence on digital technologies, the trend will continue this year.

Sending a data stream of more than 100 Gbps to the victim’s server with small breaks for several days cannot be organized by one person or a small circle of people. Such actions need to be purposefully coordinated. One can only guess who is actually ordering and planning such attacks. However, they will not disappear this year.

Another notable trend is related to compromised third-party software, which is already affecting IT giants.

Modern IT solutions are often based on third-party software solutions that come with many small or open-source products. Hackers try to take advantage of opportunities to get into large systems just by using such small links in the chain.

Cases of such hacks are expected this year. A similar situation occurred in 2020 with SolarWinds Orion, when many companies, including Microsoft and VMware, fell victim to using software from a reliable manufacturer, which turned out to be compromised, – said a spokesman for Tet.

This means that development organizations will have to implement new or improve existing processes to control software components and the development process.

The problem of infected emails is still relevant. Since August 2020, we have seen a rapid increase in viral activity – the number of infected documents has almost doubled.

One of the brightest examples is the Emotet virus, the spread of which was stopped due to the coordinated work of many countries.

An alarming trend is observed with the spread of viruses through “edoc” and “asice” supplements, which open, even despite safety warnings. Phishing campaigns will continue. All these viruses require more vigilance from each person.

Based on last year’s data and the development of the situation with the pandemic and its consequences around the world, it is already clear that the focus of cybercriminals is a person and his ultimate device.

Why try to break the security perimeter of the enterprise and the firewall or a well-protected cloud? Instead, more and more attacks will be targeted at the weakest part – the person and the device on which he works from home.

Old software, lack of virus protection, access to Admin page, limited ability to control employees or its absence, in general, make employees an easy target.

Picture Credit: Pexels

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Thousands of businesses around the world are expected to go bankrupt by the end of the year due to the economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Governments in leading economies are now trying to prevent this.

Last week, the overall picture of the scale of the effects of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic on the global economy became somewhat clearer. It was then that a number of countries released their economic indicators for the second quarter of 2020. During this period, the lockdown introduced in many parts of the world led to the shutdown of entire industries and services.

In Europe, the deepest economic decline was recorded in Spain – in the second quarter of this year, its economy fell by 18.5% compared to the previous quarter. In France and Italy, the economic downturn was also quite sensitive – 14 and 12%, respectively. The recession did not bypass even the largest economy on the continent – Germany. Here, in the second quarter, economic activity fell by a record of 10.1%.

Actually, in other countries of the world in the period from April to June the economic situation was not better. For example, in the United States, the decline in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached 9.5% compared to the first quarter, and in Japan, according to preliminary estimates, the economic downturn was more than 11%.

United States

The United States has not made direct changes to Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Act. However, the package of economic support measures adopted in March this year provides, in particular, support for enterprises involved in countering the pandemic. The law passed by lawmakers contains a package of economic incentives worth more than two trillion dollars. It was the largest package of economic support in US history.

In addition, the US Federal Reserve System has allocated an additional $500 billion to finance the government’s program to lend to troubled companies.

Small and medium-sized businesses are supported through lending programs run by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The minimum threshold that allows businesses to take advantage of this program has recently been raised from $2.7 million to $7.5 million per company.

However, to take advantage of this program, a company does not have to be insolvent. In addition, the company’s management should provide a business plan on how it intends to integrate the proposed government support into the company’s long-term development strategy to overcome the current difficulties.

The collapse of many market players is imminent

However, many special support programs will expire in the coming months, creating the risk of a second wave of economic crisis around the world, including a growing number of bankruptcies.

Small firms with limited financial reserves and small margins will have a particularly difficult time. For them, any reduction in support programs can put an end to attempts to survive, which will simply destroy them.

Picture Credit: Unsplash

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What’s an Ignition Interlock Device (IID)?

An ignition interlock device is an electronic device that requires that you blow into a device, that measures alcohol, and only allows you to start the vehicle if you have no alcohol in your system.  Most of the devices also randomly or regularly require you to blow into the device while you are driving.  The devices have to be professionally installed by an installation center, approved by the DMV, and regularly calibrated and maintained.  The centers charge a fee for installation and maintenance, and must also report to the DMV the installation, removal, and any attempts to tamper with the device.

Why are Ignition Interlock Devices Required for First Time Offenders?

For first time offenses in California, certain counties require an IID for offenders, even with no priors.  Los Angeles County is the only county in Southern California that requires an IID on a first-time DUI.

The requirement of an IID is not a court-imposed penalty, although the court might warn about it.  It is a DMV requirement.  The reason why Los Angeles County cases all require a DMV imposed IID, is to see, as part of a pilot program, whether or not requiring an IID has any impact, or is a deterrent, against a first-time offender becoming a second-time offender.

The hope for the pilot program is to show, compared to statistics collected before the pilot project, that an IID either does or does not, cause persons to not offend again and get a second-time DUI.

Is an IID Required for Second Time Offenders?

The court doesn’t require an IID in Los Angeles, and neither does the DMV.  That makes the punishment for a second-time offense less than those for first-time offenders if you have a Los Angeles DUI case.

For the second time DUI offenders, the court will not impose an IID requirement.  The DMV will not make an IID mandatory, but for second-time offenders, the DMV imposes an 18-month suspension and requires that drivers attend an 18-month school to get a license back in full.  Drivers have two options of getting a restricted license, at their choice:

• Install an IID and drive again on a restricted license after a 90-day hard suspension (three months), until the 18 months are completed; or

• Have a one year (12 months) hard suspension, and then have a restricted license for 6 months until the 18-month class is completed.

Most drivers choose the lower 90-day suspension and have an IID installed, whether they have a Los Angeles DUI or not.

-Written by Los Angeles DUI Attorney Robert Miller, of the firm of Miller and Associates.  Contact us for a free consultation if you have questions about your DUI case.

Image credit: 123rf.com

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