Mass media outlets and telecommunication service providers are the top targets for cyberattacks in the first half of 2024, along with construction development companies, according to a report.
The report, published by Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company, states that telecoms faced the highest number of cyberattacks on databases and confidentiality. This is mostly due to attackers' interest in sensitive data and exploiting trusted relationships. Mass media has also been traditionally targeted, while construction development firms may be attractive to threat actors due to their extensive use of subcontractors.
In Oman, the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (MTCIT) effectively managed over 460 cybersecurity incidents in 2023. This swift action is a result of the sultanate's efforts to protect digital infrastructure from attacks and maintain cyber resilience. Oman reported 140 cases of cybercrime in 2023, up from 126 in 2022, with cases related to online content increasing to 2,686 in 2023 from 2,519 in 2022.
According to Kaspersky Managed Detection and Response (MDR) statistics for January-June 2024, there were 284 cybersecurity incidents per 10,000 systems in the telecommunications sector. Mass media companies experienced 180 attacks per 10,000 systems, while the construction development, food, and industrial sectors followed with 179, 122, and 121 incidents, respectively.
"If a cyberattack is successfully launched on a telecom company, millions of customers' records could be exposed, including contact details, social security numbers, and credit card information," said Sergey Soldatov, head of Kaspersky Managed Detection and Response. These attacks can also lead to further exploitation of clients' trusted relationships, making the sector attractive to cybercriminals.
Soldatov also noted that mass media organisations are increasingly targeted, especially during international conflicts where they play a crucial role in information warfare. Construction development firms are targeted due to their significant cash flows and reliance on subcontractors, which makes them vulnerable to attacks through trusted partners' infrastructures and spear phishing, the report added.