Question Before You Click: Emerging Cyber Threats You Can't Ignore

The cybersecurity landscape is shifting rapidly, and the next 12 to 18 months will test individuals and organizations in new ways. CHCA’s Chief Quality and Informatics Officer, Marico Bryant Howe, Ph.D, recently sat down with Gwen Greene, Ph.D. Greene is the president & CEO of Applied Information Technology, a cybersecurity and engineering compliance firm working in government and commercial contracting. Dr. Greene identified three interconnected cyber threats that demand immediate attention.

The Industrialization of AI-Powered Cybercrime Artificial intelligence has fundamentally changed the threat environment. Phishing and social engineering attacks are no longer generic, easy-to-spot scams. 

“It’s highly personalized and believable,” Dr. Greene said. “That’s one big issue. That’s why little nuggets of questioning are important. Question before you click.” 

Ransomware Groups Operating as Businesses

Ransomware is no longer the work of lone hackers. These groups now operate with the sophistication of mature enterprises. Emails appearing to be from legitimate companies are a primary entry point. Dr. Greene advises users to question whether an email truly originated from the sender it claims. When in doubt, verify through a separate channel before taking any action.

Targeting Critical Infrastructure and Identities

“We're also seeing increased targeting of critical infrastructures,” Dr. Greene said. “If we go to the news, we see how many reports of targeted health care systems, government agencies, state and local, have been targeted for cybercrimes?”

Dr. Greene recommends before responding to any request for personal or sensitive information, users should confirm the identity and legitimacy of the source. A quick phone call could prevent a serious breach.

The bottom line: question before you click.