Whether most of us realize it or not, Microsoft is a widespread company that goes far beyond providing the Microsoft 365 suite. It owns brands like Skype, LinkedIn, Bing, GitHub, Compulsion Games, and Xbox, delivering platforms and software that help us connect, work, surf the web, and stay entertained.
Since many of us rely on Microsoft in our daily lives, whether we’re firing off an email to a colleague or trying to find a list of the best-paying casino apps, it’s worthwhile understanding what plays a role in making Microsoft a dream target for hackers so that we can better protect ourselves online.
Here’s why Microsoft is a massive cyber-attack target.
Microsoft holds personal and organizational data
Microsoft owns the Windows operating system installed on the majority of computers worldwide, and its widely accessible product, Microsoft 365, is used to help organizations operate (including government organizations). The cloud storage from the Microsoft 365 product, which offers at least 1 TB of storage for each user, stores all the work people and organizations do and need to operate.
Microsoft Azure delivers cloud computing that goes well beyond storing projects and documents by helping to process and store data from entire networks in the cloud. Like Microsoft 365, Azure has become an essential tool for the operations of many businesses.
On top of all this, Microsoft keeps us entertained by being the third-largest gaming company in the world, drawing gamers and their data to the brand in droves.
When you add all this together, it means that Microsoft has a hand in many digital activities and consequently holds a lot of our sensitive data. Because of this, the company holds a massive amount of information that makes it a data gold mine for hackers seeking monetary gain, sensitive information, or the disruption of entire systems or networks.
Microsoft has 1.2 billion users
With more than 1.2 billion users, Microsoft has more users than most countries’ entire populations. Considering that 5.35 billion people use the internet and that internet access is now integral to the use of Microsoft, this number is even more significant. It means that roughly one-fifth of all people online are more than likely have some form of data connection with the Microsoft brand.
For hackers, this incredibly high user rate signifies that Microsoft offers a lot of opportunities, particularly for those using phishing schemes that aim to impersonate the company to get personal information. After all, if a hacker is going to go through the effort of impersonating an organization, choosing one with a broad reach puts the odds in favor of their efforts paying off.
Microsoft’s cybersecurity isn’t perfect
Even though Microsoft is a major leader in the tech industry that makes a lot of our daily work possible and easier, it still has room for improvement. For instance, a recent state-affiliated attack on the company has brought to its attention a need to increase its security systems to mitigate future risks. This is particularly the case for attacks that are state-backed or state-affiliated — in other words, attacks that are carried out by a hacker (or hackers) working for a government organization, as the consequences can have global ramifications.
Some have even criticized the company for its lack of security leading to data breaches, with Microsoft Azure breaches standing out as the most concerning. Azure has suffered data breaches in the past, with the most recent happening in late 2023, leading to hundreds of compromised high-level accounts. This attack was largely attributed to a phishing email scheme that many people fell for, but it still raised concerns for Azure users.
In addition to targeted attacks and data breaches, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) is also impacting cybersecurity needs. Microsoft has been publicly raising concerns about this as the security needed is changing rapidly and will impact many people and organizations, including Microsoft itself. More and more hackers are leveraging AI in their attacks, creating more sophisticated attacks with more potential for success.
While the company’s security isn’t flawless, Microsoft does work alongside governments and policymakers to try to get ahead of cyber security needs; the company website states, “To maintain global trust in technology — and secure cyberspace against new and emerging threats — public policy must continue to evolve.” Microsoft isn’t the only tech giant that has made calls regarding cybersecurity, as it’s a growing threat that can have far-reaching consequences.
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Microsoft is an appealing target for hackers; does that mean we should avoid Its products?
The mindboggling volume of data that Microsoft stores for individuals and organizations holds immense appeal to hackers with a wide range of motivations, including individual hackers looking for a monetary pay-off or state-backed hackers seeking out sensitive information from major organizations or governments.
The impact of this hacker appeal is already felt, but should we stop using Microsoft products and brands? Well, Microsoft is so ingrained in the different activities we do, particularly when it comes to keeping organizations running and operating, that simply not using Microsoft products just isn’t an option.
However, understanding why Microsoft is so appealing to hackers shows us that we should operate cautiously when using its products. We must be aware of potential cyber threats or attacks that may take advantage of us as the brand’s users. In other words, we should familiarize ourselves with cybersecurity best practices at an individual level (like being wary of phishing schemes and having anti-virus software) and advocate for stronger policies and research to proactively protect our cyber security at the government level.
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