The World Wide Web, invented in 1989, is home to around 2 billion websites today. This unbelievable growth has brought the world closer and changed it into a small global village. The internet is responsible for the quick technological progresses of the world and it is also progressing us towards hundreds of years ahead.

But, with the shifting of the world from the physical to the digital landscape, risks  in security have also changed from physical to cyber.

Cybercrimes have caused losses of trillions of dollars.  According to Juniper research the amount in 2019 was $2 trillion.

As there are more threats rotating online, companies are investing a lot in cyber security and in giving training to employees, mainly regarding online scams and ransomware attacks.

It is calculated that by 2027, global spending on cyber security will be $10 billion. In this era of IoT, where there is no escaping the internet, it is vital to know the importance of cyber security and more importantly, the types of cyber security threats around you!

Here are 11 staggering cyber security facts that will blow your mind!

1. Half of all Cyber attacks are aimed at small businesses

Small entrepreneurs frequently do not focus on cyber security, believing that they’re not even worth being attacked, and this is what makes them the perfect target.

Hackers may access their data and steal consumer information, such as, personal details, credit card numbers, and social security numbers. As per Juniper research, small businesses make up to 13% of the whole cyber security market; astonishingly small businesses invest less than $500 in cyber security.

2. $76 billion of illicit activities involves bitcoin

Bitcoins have started a wonderful system of digital currencies providing vagueness, safety, quick transfer, and freedom from artificially regularized currency rates by governments. Unluckily, most of the illegal activities involve the use of Bitcoins due to the secrecy it offers.

The University of Sydney in Australia released a study that states that $76 billion amount almost equals the entire illegal markets for drugs in the U.S and Europe.

3. Estimated $6 trillion in damages by 2021

Forbes showed that the estimated amount of $6 trillion will cost significantly more harms and cost than all natural disasters in a year. But this amount exceeds even the global trade of all illegal drugs.

It is quite easy to stay unidentified online, compared to real life scenarios. The use of secure VPN services allows a person to conceal their real location and identity. A VPN encrypts all the online traffic making it impossible to track a person’s online activities.

4. Approximately 10% of cybercrimes are reported in the U.S every year

The United States, always considered as the centre of technology, has significantly undercounted the rate of reported cyber crimes. This is because, they are repeatedly difficult to establish. In other cases for example where ransomware is occupied, it turns out to be very difficult to get professional help as the criminal may create personal or embarrassing photos of you on the screen, or result reputational harm if any personal information lands in the hand of the hacker.

As per the unit chief at FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), the total number of cyber crimes reported only represents 10-12% of the actual number.

5. Ransomware attack every 14 seconds

The 12news.com shows that in every 15 seconds, someone around the world joins a social media site. The 2019 Official Annual Cyber crime Report (ACR) forecasts that businesses will fall for ransomware attacks every 14 seconds. Thus when you raise your wrist to see at the time and lower it back, somewhere in the world a ransomware attack has already occurred.

6. Staggering $300 billion cyber security market

In a 2019 press release, Global Market Insights showed that the cyber security market will be a $300 billion industry by the year 2024. Actually, it seems that the amount will be much more than that as technology advances exponentially.

There are many cyber security tools available online at dirt cheap rates and even free. Be careful as there are many predators hidden as utility tools.

7. Vindictive emails to public organizations

Symantec’s ISTR 2019 report expresses that public administration organizations get one vindictive email per 302 emails. Though the number might seem quite small, considering the nature of work at such places, it’s expected for employees to fall into the trap.

8. Become a hacker with $1

There are so many hacking tool kits and software available on the dark web costing as low as literally $1. Obviously, the costlier, the better the tools and services available.

This does not stop here; if you search more you can literally find third party apps directly on the internet, you won’t even have to go the dark web to find such a service.

9. Largest DDoS attack: 1.7 TBps

NETSCOUT Threat Intelligence Report included the biggest DDoS attack on record. The attack was a 1.7 terabytes for every subsequent reflection decided at a U.S organization.

To make it increasingly reasonable, ultra HD quality recordings require 25 megabits for each second for gushing. The quickest web speed accessible is 2,000 Mbps by Xfinity Internet.

10.   It takes 5 minutes to hack an IoT device

In the report, NETSCOUT also revealed that on standard an IoT device could be attacked easily within the first five minutes of connecting to the internet!

Now, it has become the basis of many of our daily activities, be it your, smartwatch, car, home control system, smart TVs and much more. Thus, there’s no way you can fully disconnect from the internet and go back to the Stone Age.

Conclusion

First, relax! It seems that there’s a frightening online world out there waiting to chase you down, but by using strong security tools such as VPNs, antivirus software from credible companies you can stay safe.

It is, however, suggested to educate yourself often about cyber security and remain up to date with the security requirements of the age.