Destructive worm-like attacks that take advantage of hot exploits at record speed, the rise of ransomware and critical-severity of attacks. These are just a few of the findings of the latest Global Threat Landscape Report for Q2 2017 issued by Fortinet, an established provider of high-performance cybersecurity solutions.

In addition to a 30% increase in the number of exploits detected over Q1, attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, leveraging machine learning and AI-like attacks, and network breaches are easier than ever, according to the Report.

"Cybercriminals are exploiting known vulnerabilities and maximising impact with a hybrid threat known as ransomworms," reads an excerpt from the Report.

According to Fortinet, the research reveals that poor cybersecurity hygiene and risky application usage enables destructive worm-like attacks to take advantage of hot exploits at record speed.

Adversaries are spending less time developing ways to break in, and instead are focusing on leveraging automated and intent-based tools to infiltrate with more impact to business continuity

Paul Williams, Fortinet Country Manager – Southern Africa, said the company is seeing a growth in cybercrime activities and new trends that continue to affect verticals.

"But what we're seeing now that it is starting to affect every company from SOHO, SMB, SME, large enterprise, and public sector. Nobody is being left untouched and everyone is potentially is a victim in this day and age. Customers still use point solutions without a holistic approach."

Traditional antimalware

According to Forrester research into endpoint security software and a related forecast over the years 2016 – 2021, cyberthreats are increasing in number and complexity, and traditional antimalware tools may not be adequate to protect the organisation.

As such, next-generation solutions are expected to be the main market drivers over the next five years.

"We expect the endpoint security software market to grow at a 4.5% CAGR over the next five years. We expect to see double-digit growth for the application integrity protection and endpoint visibility and control segments. These new, emerging endpoint technologies will offset declines in more traditional endpoint security suites."

"Today's hacker is organised and well-funded. Cybercriminals are no longer typically lone hackers but rather sophisticated criminal organisations. Anywhere from 20% to 80% of cybercrime is conducted by organised criminal groups. Yet in Forrester's latest security survey, only 46% of security decision makers were highly concerned about a security attack originating from non-state actors, and 43% were highly concerned about a security attack originating from a foreign government. New cyberthreats are more difficult to detect and manage," reads an excerpt from the research.