AhnLab warns of personal security threats

By Yoon Sung-won

AhnLab, the nation’s leading security software provider, said Tuesday that cybersecurity threats may affect people’s personal lives.

The company said it expects five major security threats including more sophisticated ransomware, cyber attacks against public facilities, cyber attacks targeting security glitches in public software, security breaches on Internet of Things (IoT) devices and attacks on non-face-to-face services.

“Most of the services we use every day are based on IT,” said an official at AhnLab Security Emergency Center. “In 2016, the level of cybersecurity threats, which people have not thought of as serious, will increase.”

AhnLab advised users to install cyber vaccine programs in their computers and smartphones and not to open suspicious attached files or hyperlinks in order to prevent ransomware infections. Ransomware is a malicious program that encrypts a target computer’s files and holds them for ransom.

The company stressed the need to update software such as web browsers and word-processing programs.

AhnLab also said cyber attacks targeting IoT devices will rise, as more products will be connected using this technology. It said wireless routers, security systems connected to networks and IoT-based home electricity and heating systems as well as connected cars and drones can easily be targeted by cyber attacks.

As Internet-only banking services are scheduled to be launched this year, the company recommended that users download security solutions provided by financial service firms.