On Thursday 19 October, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) published its report on cyber threats in 2023. The agency stresses that ransomware is still the main threat. It also warns that the deployment of artificial intelligence systems represents a challenge in terms of potential threats, and that this technology could disrupt the forthcoming European elections.
The ENISA report indicates that ransomware continues to be the main online threat. The various attacks recorded show that manufacturing, health, public administration and services are the sectors most affected.
In addition, ENISA explains that, in a context where personal data online is increasingly valuable, extortion techniques are now combined with data theft techniques. “Double extortion has witnessed a notable rise, with certain groups even relying solely on the act of stealing information”, summarises the report.
In addition, the ENISA report shows the growing role that artificial intelligence is playing in cyber threats, particularly as a result of the emergence of generative AI systems. “The trend suggests that generative AI is providing an avenue for threat actors to craft sophisticated and targeted attacks at speed and scale”, notes ENISA.
The agency is drawing attention to the influence that AI could have on electoral campaigns, particularly the European elections in 2024. “Trust in the EU electoral process will critically depend on our capacity to rely on cybersecure infrastructures and on the integrity and availability of information”, commented Juhan Lepassaar, Executive Director of ENISA. He concluded: “Now, it is up to us to ensure we take the necessary actions to achieve this sensitive yet essential goal for our democracies”.
To view the report: https://aeur.eu/f/967 (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)