Data Manipulation: The Latest Cyber Threat

The dominating fear surrounding cyber crime has always been one of data theft, and rightly so. The biggest cyber attacks so far have involved data theft on monumental levels, bringing about all kinds of threats and consequences. But security experts are now voicing their concerns towards a new possibility one potentially far more sinister and that is data manipulation. The theft of data has always posed two significant compromises: the confidentiality and availability of information. With manipulation now perching on the horizon however, a third compromise looms the integrity of information. By changing and manipulating sensitive digital data rather than just stealing or deleting it, cyber criminals have the power to affect critical infrastructure systems. This in turn then affects the ability for authorities to make decisions, if they cannot trust the information they are receiving. With more advanced threats comes the need for more advanced security measures, which is in itself a precarious talking point that triggers much debate between governments, organisations and the general public. For all a government can do to protect its country, there remains a fine line between what is acceptable and what is a violation of personal privacy. In this, the jury is still very much out. One thing is certain it is more important than ever for people and organisations to adopt a holistic approach to their cyber security, and to embed it into their culture. This means accepting cyber security as a part of everyday life, taking responsibility and not leaving everything to IT experts. With the Internet of Things continuing to expand, so does the window of opportunity for data theft and manipulation. Many data breaches are a result of human error and could so easily be avoided, simply by increasing cyber literacy amongst the general population. Something that all security experts agree on is the need to get off the back foot and start taking things more seriously. Cyber security should not be employed as defence but as prevention, and innovation to get ahead of any upcoming threats. If you are cyber security professional looking for a new opportunity the JM Group trained advisor can find you a role to match your skill set. Check out our current roles or contact an advisor.