Cyber attacks are expected to increase at year end. This is due to a number of factors, including:

• Increased holiday shopping activity. Cybercriminals often target shoppers during the holiday season, as they know that people are more likely to be distracted and less cautious.

• New vulnerabilities in software and hardware. Cybercriminals are constantly looking for new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in software and hardware. As new vulnerabilities are discovered, cybercriminals are quick to develop new attacks.

• The increasing sophistication of cybercriminals. Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated and their attacks are becoming more difficult to detect and prevent.

In addition to these general factors, there are a number of specific cyber threats that are expected to increase at year end. These include:

• Ransomware attacks. Ransomware attacks are a type of cyber attack in which cybercriminals encrypt a victim's data and demand a ransom payment in order to decrypt it. Ransomware attacks have become increasingly common in recent years and are expected to continue to increase in 2023.

• Supply chain attacks. Supply chain attacks are a type of cyber attack in which cybercriminals target a company's suppliers in order to gain access to the company's network or data. Supply chain attacks are becoming more common as businesses become more interconnected.

• Phishing attacks. Phishing attacks are a type of cyber attack in which cybercriminals send fraudulent emails or text messages that appear to be from a trusted source, such as a bank or government agency. The goal of phishing attacks is to trick the recipient into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers.

Organizations and individuals can take steps to protect themselves from cyber attacks, such as:

• Keeping software and hardware up to date. Software and hardware updates often include security patches that can help to protect against known vulnerabilities.

• Using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication. Strong passwords and multi-factor authentication can help to prevent unauthorized access to accounts and systems.

• Being cautious about what emails and links you click on. Phishing attacks are one of the most common types of cyber attacks, so it is important to be cautious about what emails and links you click on.

• Having a cybersecurity plan in place. A cybersecurity plan can help organizations to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber attacks.

By taking these steps, organizations and individuals can help to protect themselves from the increasing number of cyber attacks at year end and beyond.