PlanArty CEO Istvan Meszaros On Ransomware, AI And Cybersecurity Awareness in IT by Roberto Popolizio

Roberto Popolizio

Updated on: June 27, 2024

Welcome to another interview by Safety Detectives, where experts from the best companies in the world analyze the current state of cybersecurity and online privacy in their industry.

Our guest today is Istvan Meszaros, CEO of PlanArty, an online Time Management System. Over the past two decades, Istvan has witnessed the evolution of cybersecurity from basic file copy-pasting to today’s sophisticated protocols.

He joined me to discuss why ransomware and AI are the top cyber threats in 204, but also his view for the future state of cybersecurity.

What are the most pressing cyber threats in your industry right now?

In my opinion, the most pressing cyber threat in our industry right now is ransomware. This type of attack has become increasingly sophisticated and prevalent, posing a significant risk to businesses of all sizes.

📖 Ransomware is a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system or data until a sum of money is paid. It can disrupt operations, compromise sensitive data, and result in substantial financial losses, making it a critical concern for cybersecurity professionals.

Why do you think this threat is on the rise?

I see three reasons why ransomware is on the rise lately:

1. It offers lucrative payouts to hackers.
2. The proliferation of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) products enables less technically skilled attackers to launch ransomware attacks by renting tools and infrastructure from more experienced hackers.
3. The shift to remote work has expanded the attack surface for cybercriminals.

How can end-users prevent and react to these threats?

End-users can take several proactive steps to prevent and effectively react to ransomware threats. These actions include frequently backing up important data, keeping all software, operating systems, and applications up to date, installing and regularly updating reliable antivirus and anti-malware software, and enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

Companies can assist their users in combating ransomware by providing strong passwords upon new account creation, offering the option for users to activate Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and requiring email address confirmation before account activation.

For the security of transactions, PlanArty uses the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol, which encrypts any information you send to us. Besides that, our customers’ data is backed up automatically and  made accessible from any device, so one can always stay connected and up-to-date.

Do you think the level of cybersecurity awareness is improving in your industry?

Yes, I believe the level of cybersecurity awareness is greatly improving in the IT industry. I see more and more companies and users taking active steps to prevent such attacks. Users are taking data backup seriously, using multi-location data storages, implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), employing advanced antivirus and anti-malware solutions, conducting regular security audits, and participating in cybersecurity training programs. Additionally, there is a growing trend towards zero-trust security models and the use of encryption to protect sensitive data.

What cybersecurity challenges do you see in the future of your industry, and how do you plan to cope?

One of the significant cybersecurity challenges I foresee in the future of our industry is the rise of AI-generated actions and bots that can mimic human behavior so accurately that they become indistinguishable from legitimate human visitors.

This will make it increasingly difficult to identify and block malicious activities. To cope with this, we must invest in advanced behavioral analytics and machine learning algorithms that can detect subtle anomalies and patterns indicative of AI-driven attacks. Additionally, we should enhance our authentication processes to ensure only genuine users can access our systems.

Other challenges include the increasing sophistication of ransomware attacks, the vulnerability of IoT devices, and the ongoing threat of phishing attacks.