APRIL 20198 IN MY V EWBY SUMIT BANSAL, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ASEAN AND KOREA, SOPHOS SEEING THE FUTURE: CYBERSECURITY TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2019In 2018, Singapore faced its biggest cyber breach to date--the SingHealth data breach, which triggered alarms of precaution in both organisations and consumers alike. As the spotlight continues to be shed on Singapore with its overall progression as a Smart Nation, its cyber security risks also increase. Countering these risks can only be done by staying ahead of the game as the threat landscape has and will undoubtedly continue to evolve. As the year comes to an end, let's delve into some of the cybersecurity trends to look out for in this region in 2019.Mobile malware is a growing and persistent threat Cybercriminals are making the journey with internet users as they move from desktop and laptop computers to mobile and Internet of Things (IoT) platforms. 2018 saw a short but taxing rise in malicious cryptominers and we should expect to see more of this in the year to come. A cryptominer­ masking as an innocent-looking app--on one's phone could strain the device's processor under the load. It is the act of cryptojacking, where cryptominers transfer the costs of mining (performance, and wear and tear) to the victims and reap the benefits off their victims at no benefit to anyone but the cryptojacker. The Cybersecurity Agency of Singapore recognizes an upward trend in crypto mining and is keeping an eye on this new threat including issuing alerts cautioning individuals and businesses on the increase of malicious malware.Mobile cybercriminals also tend to take the route of advertising clickfraud, embedded through yet another innocuous app that simulate users clicking ads to generate revenue. According to a recent The State of Mobile Fraud 2018 report by Apps Flyer, Singapore has been found to be the hardest hit in the Asia Pacific area, with app install fraud rates hitting 27 per cent. Though clickfraud was long-established on desktop computers, it is a growing problem in the mobile space due to the number of apps and devices that makes it an inviting target. This year, SophosLabs uncovered an app supplied as part of the stock firmware image of a small phone maker that had been `Trojanised' in the supply chain, before anyone purchased the device. The app, Sound Recorder, had been altered to discreetly intercept and send SMS text messages. Identifying and ultimately removing such a malicious app is almost impossible until the producer of the device is aware of the compromise. Hand-crafted, targeted attacks are on the riseSingapore, being a global hub for finance and technology in Asia, has become an attractive target for cybercriminals. One-third of Singapore's SME's have experienced a Sumit Bansal
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