Cybersecurity Experts Shift Focus to Cybercrime and Emerging Threats
/ 4 min read
Quick take - Selena Larson, a senior threat intelligence analyst at Proofpoint, has shifted her focus from state-sponsored threats to cybercrime, advocating for increased attention to its significant impact on individuals and organizations, while her peers in the cybersecurity field continue to address a range of evolving threats.
Fast Facts
- Selena Larson has shifted her focus from state-sponsored APTs to cybercrime, highlighting its significant impact as a multibillion-dollar ecosystem affecting individuals and organizations.
- Her personal accounts of victims from scams and ransomware attacks advocate for a re-evaluation of the threat hierarchy in cybersecurity, emphasizing the need for increased attention to cybercrime.
- Elisa Costante from Forescout emphasizes the importance of securing IoT, OT, and IoMT devices, identifying 23 vulnerabilities and tracking over 420 million attacks to protect critical infrastructure.
- Ashley Jess at Intel 471 has launched the Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) 101 initiative to enhance understanding of cybersecurity among diverse audiences, focusing on issues like AI misuse and election security.
- The collective efforts of these cybersecurity professionals highlight the importance of innovation, collaboration, and addressing both traditional and emerging threats in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Cybersecurity Experts Shift Focus to Cybercrime and Emerging Threats
Transition to Cybercrime
Selena Larson, a senior threat intelligence analyst at Proofpoint, has shifted her focus from state-sponsored advanced persistent threats (APTs) to cybercrime. This transition has elicited mixed reactions from her peers in the cybersecurity field. APTs have traditionally been regarded as the most sophisticated threats in the cybersecurity landscape. Larson emphasizes the profound impact of cybercrime, characterizing it as a multibillion-dollar ecosystem that significantly affects individuals and organizations alike.
Larson shares compelling personal accounts of victims who have suffered from scams and ransomware attacks. These accounts reinforce her argument for a re-evaluation of the perceived threat hierarchy in cybersecurity. She advocates for increased attention to cybercrime, asserting that, although nation-state threats remain critical, cybercrime affects a far greater number of people daily. Her research and insights have played a pivotal role in reshaping how the cybersecurity industry addresses these issues.
Contributions to Cybersecurity
Her team at Proofpoint actively monitors threat actors and converts complex data into actionable intelligence for businesses. Additionally, Larson hosts the podcast “DISCARDED,” which aims to make various cybersecurity challenges more accessible to a broader audience. Her contributions to the field have earned her recognition as one of the 2024 SC Media Women in IT Security Honorees.
In a related focus on cybersecurity, Elisa Costante, vice president of research at Forescout, emphasizes the security of Internet of Things (IoT), operational technology (OT), and Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices. Her team at Forescout’s Vedere Labs identified 23 vulnerabilities over the past year, enhancing the understanding of the global threat landscape. Costante highlights the necessity of visibility in safeguarding OT and IoT systems, tracking over 420 million attacks and monitoring more than 19 million devices to protect critical infrastructure.
Addressing Emerging Threats
Ashley Jess, a senior intelligence analyst at Intel 471, has developed the Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) 101 initiative to bolster knowledge in cyber threat intelligence among individuals with varying technical backgrounds. Jess’s program provides foundational insights into cybersecurity and has established intelligence desks within Intel 471 to enhance reporting and collaboration across global operations. Her focus includes high-priority issues such as AI misuse and election security, with her team’s collaborative efforts producing nearly a hundred reports on critical topics over the past year.
The honorees in the cybersecurity domain collectively emphasize the significance of perseverance and advocacy for innovation. Larson encourages a diversity of opinions and experiences within the cybersecurity community to drive innovation forward. Costante has discussed the challenges encountered during Project Memoria, including analyzing proprietary TCP/IP stacks and identifying systemic mistakes made by developers. Jess underscores the relevance of identifying key stakeholders and addressing intelligence gaps, especially concerning emerging threats associated with AI and election security. Together, these professionals are shaping the future of cybersecurity, addressing both traditional and evolving threats in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
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