"The Metaverse Could Become a Top Avenue for Cyberattacks in 2023"

Both maturing and emerging consumer-facing cyber threats could add to the numerous challenges that enterprise security teams will face in 2023. In their analysis of how the cyber threat landscape is likely to change over the coming year, researchers predict that threat actors will advance the use of many of their current tactics while also looking into new attack vectors via social media, streaming services, and online gaming platforms. For business administrators, the expansion of brands into the metaverse may expose them to attack. The metaverse is a theoretical universal and immersive virtual world made possible by the use of virtual reality and social media on the Internet. In the age of remote work and Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD), any consumer threat is potentially an enterprise threat, so Information Technology (IT) security teams must keep up with the latest developments in this area. Cybercriminals are expected to continue exploiting the post-pandemic surge in consumer interest in online streaming services in order to distribute malware, steal data, and carry out other malicious activity. Many of the attacks will go after people looking for alternative sources to download a legitimate streaming app or a specific episode of a show. Cybercriminals will use highly anticipated titles and streaming service provider names such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video to trick users into downloading malware or visiting phishing sites. Consumers will also be subjected to more gaming subscription fraud and scams involving virtual currencies and artifacts. Attackers will primarily target games that use currencies and allow the sale of in-game items and boosters because they provide a means for threat actors to process money obtained through other illegal activities. This article continues to discuss how cybercriminals can use the metaverse as an attack avenue.

Dark Reading reports "The Metaverse Could Become a Top Avenue for Cyberattacks in 2023"