Although this is a list of bad actors and threats affecting us in 2022, it is very likely that this list will still be the same in several years to come. Here’s a list of our suggested bad actors in 2022 – and – links to conferences related to these niches. We’ve done this so that you can take advantage of the learning opportunities you’ll get for attending conferences and events within these niches.
Bot Network Operators (“Bot Army”)
Recommended event list: “Offensive Security Conferences”
In the same way that hackers break into systems for the sake of a challenge or bragging rights, bot-network operators take over several systems in order to coordinate assaults and to disseminate phishing scams, spam, and malware attacks. Via other cases, the services provided by these networks are made available in underground markets (e.g., purchasing a denial-of-service attack, servers to relay spam, or phishing attacks).
Cybercriminal Groups
Recommended event list: “Cybercrime Conferences”
Attacking systems is something criminal organizations do for financial gain.
Spam, phishing, and spyware/malware are all being used by organized criminal groups to accomplish identity theft and online fraud, to name a few tactics. Additionally, international corporate spies and organized criminal groups constitute a threat to the United States because of their capacity to undertake industrial espionage and large-scale monetary theft, as well as their ability to hire and nurture hacker talent.
Foreign Intelligence Services
Recommended event list: “US Government Cybersecurity Conferences”
Foreign intelligence agencies employ cyber technologies as part of their information-gathering and espionage operations, according to the National Security Agency. In addition, numerous countries are putting out significant effort to create information warfare doctrine, plans, and capabilities.
Such capabilities enable a single entity to have a significant and serious impact by disrupting the supply, communications, and economic infrastructures that support military power – impacts that could have a significant and serious impact on the daily lives of us all.
Bad Insiders
Recommended event list: “Social Engineering Conferences”
The unhappy employee from within a corporation is a major source of computer crime. Insiders may not require extensive understanding of computer breaches since their familiarity with a target system typically enables them to acquire unfettered access to the system, allowing them to inflict harm to it or take data from it.
Insider threats can also include vendors that provide outsourcing services as well as workers who unintentionally bring malware into computer systems.
Hackers (Script Kiddies)
Recommended event list: “Hacker Conferences / Events”
Networks are breached by hackers for a variety of reasons, including excitement of the task and bragging rights in the hacker community. When it used to take a significant amount of talent or computer knowledge to do remote cracking, hackers may now obtain attack scripts and protocols from the Internet and launch them against target sites.
As a result, although attack tools have gotten more sophisticated, they have also become more accessible to the general public. As reported by the Central Intelligence Agency, a high proportion of hackers lacks the necessary competence to pose a serious danger to tough targets such as key United States infrastructure.
In spite of this, the worldwide population of hackers provides a disproportionately high risk of an isolated or momentary interruption resulting in significant consequences.
Spyware/Malware Authors
Recommended event list: “Malware Conferences”
In order to launch assaults on users, individuals or groups with malevolent intent must create and distribute spyware and malware. More than a dozen harmful computer viruses and worms have been identified, including the Melissa Macro Virus, the Explore.Zip worm, the Chernobyl Virus, Nimda, the Code Red and Slammer worms, and the Blaster worm.
Phishing Attacks
Recommended event list: “Social Engineering”
Phishing scams are carried out by individuals or small groups in an attempt to steal identities or personal information in order to profit financially. Additionally, spam and spyware/malware may be used by phishers to achieve their aims.
Spammers
Recommended event list: “Social Engineering”
In order to sell things, execute phishing scams, transmit spyware/malware, or attack organizations, individuals or organizations send unsolicited e-mail with concealed or misleading information in order to do so are considered spammers.
Terrorists (Cyber Warfare)
Recommended event list: “Cyber warfare Conferences”
In order to endanger national security, cause mass deaths, undermine a target economy, and erode public morale and trust, terrorists strive to destroy, incapacitate, or exploit vital infrastructures.
And – of course – we also have a long list of infosec conferences organized by country and US state.