INDUSTRY UNLOCKED
New KnowBe4 report shows major spike in public sector attacks in 2023
The public sector is becoming an increasingly attractive target for cybercriminals everywhere , according to the latest report from KnowBe4 . It showed that cyberattacks in the public sector have seen a sharp rise . This is worrying as government agencies and public sector services retain personal data on the vast majority of people . This feature explores the outcomes of this report and also zooms in on the challenges faced in Sub Saharan Africa .
KnowBe4 , a provider of security awareness training and a simulated phishing platform , released its report on the most popular and prolific cybercrimes of 2023 with a focus on the public sector .
The report examines cybercrime trends , statistics and real life examples on a global scale as well as breaking it down by specific countries and regions , while providing possible defences to safeguard against it .
The public sector is becoming an increasingly attractive target for cybercriminals everywhere . This comes as no surprise as government agencies and public sector services retain personal data on the vast majority of people , information that is invaluable to cybercriminals .
The report is packed with startling facts and statistics highlighting the sharp rise in cyberattacks in this sector . Some of these include :
• Cyberattacks against government agencies and public sector services increased by 40 % in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the first
• Government agencies and law practices experienced the largest spike in ransomware attacks at 95 % in quarter three of 2023
• Global ransomware attacks were up by 95 % in the third quarter of 2023 when compared to the same period in 2022
• The cost of a data breach increased by 15 % over three years
• Generative AI is increasingly being adopted by cybercriminals to create sophisticated social engineering attacks www . intelligentcxo . com
37