KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM/FM) — A new study says that the recent global “Wannacry” ransomware attack may just be the next phase of an ever escalating attack on computer security that could cost businesses $8 billion over the next five years.
The Juniper Research threat analysis also says the number of personal data records stolen will double to 2.5 billion over the next three years, despite new cybersecurity solutions.
Western Michigan University business information systems professor Steven Rae said it’s not because the hackers are necessarily more sophisticated, it’s usually because the companies have lax security.
Rae said, when the computer manufacturer sends out a patch for their operating system, it needs to be installed. He also said companies have to upgrade to newer, tougher-to-hack operating systems and lose the older systems that are no longer being supported.
He said firms need to beef up their budgets for cybersecurity because they expect it to just keep getting worse.
