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Cyber Security is going in the wrong direction
Guest post by Colm Hyland CyberQuest
We need to revitalise our efforts to improve cyber security In Ireland and across Europe.
The criminals have learnt how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools much faster than the cyber professionals. Unhindered by regulations and always willing to try things out, they have delivered an 89% increase in AI enabled attacks and 266% increase in cloud intrusions.
Crowd Strike's first report for 2026 presents a worsening situation that does not augur well for the rest of the year and questions AI tools and cloud systems, that were meant to improve things.
Add conflicts across the globe and the use of cyber warfare as a critical component of modern warfare, we have new players and tactics being deployed at a frightening rate.
Meanwhile, our attempts to engage with employees and make them part of the solution to cyber crime appear not to be working.
CybSafe, the cyber awareness training company has recently published their five-year study on behaviour and attitudes to security. It looks like we may have peaked in 2022. Techniques that should now be learnt behaviour need to be relearnt and revitalised.
CybSafe gave the following examples:
The Multi-Factor Authentication Gap, we have heard the message, but we're losing the habit. While MFA awareness grew from 52% to 77% since 2021, regular usage peaked at 94% in 2022 and has since collapsed to just 53% in 2025.
The Update Snooze, we're hitting 'Remind me later' more than ever. The number of people who 'always' install software updates immediately has dropped from 44% in 2021 to 31% in 2025.
Confidence is high but consistent action is on the decline, despite a stable belief in our ability to spot scams, those who 'always' check for phishing signs fell from 51% to 36% over five years.
The Cognitive Ceiling, we're hitting a mental limit. Between 2022 and 2025, the percentage of people who feel so overwhelmed by security information continues to increase, so much so. that they minimise their protection.
The Fatalism Spike, 'my data's already out there, so why bother?' This fatalistic belief surged from 22% in 2023 to 34% in 2025, turning a rational risk into a reason for apathy.
The Cost Barrier, when you're feeling bad about things, you don't want to pay more money for security that feels like a luxury you can't afford. Over half of us (53%) now see the cost of tools and software as a major barrier, up from 43% in 2021.
The Criminal gangs and state actors who launch attacks on government and business are improving. CybSafe are telling us that our attitudes and behaviours are getting worse. The world is not in great shape at all, it appears that our guard is down.
At every level of society; personal, family, school, business and government, we must look at some of our neighbours in Finland and Estonia about their approach. Engaging citizens through every communication channel and developing a third force outside of the normal services are part of their strategy.
We have untapped resources in the female and neurodiverse populations who can make a huge difference to support the beleaguered services in the private and public sector. We must set cyber security in the right direction in 2026.
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at [email protected] now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at [email protected] now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
View all episodes
By Irish Tech News
2
11 ratings
Guest post by Colm Hyland CyberQuest
We need to revitalise our efforts to improve cyber security In Ireland and across Europe.
The criminals have learnt how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools much faster than the cyber professionals. Unhindered by regulations and always willing to try things out, they have delivered an 89% increase in AI enabled attacks and 266% increase in cloud intrusions.
Crowd Strike's first report for 2026 presents a worsening situation that does not augur well for the rest of the year and questions AI tools and cloud systems, that were meant to improve things.
Add conflicts across the globe and the use of cyber warfare as a critical component of modern warfare, we have new players and tactics being deployed at a frightening rate.
Meanwhile, our attempts to engage with employees and make them part of the solution to cyber crime appear not to be working.
CybSafe, the cyber awareness training company has recently published their five-year study on behaviour and attitudes to security. It looks like we may have peaked in 2022. Techniques that should now be learnt behaviour need to be relearnt and revitalised.
CybSafe gave the following examples:
The Multi-Factor Authentication Gap, we have heard the message, but we're losing the habit. While MFA awareness grew from 52% to 77% since 2021, regular usage peaked at 94% in 2022 and has since collapsed to just 53% in 2025.
The Update Snooze, we're hitting 'Remind me later' more than ever. The number of people who 'always' install software updates immediately has dropped from 44% in 2021 to 31% in 2025.
Confidence is high but consistent action is on the decline, despite a stable belief in our ability to spot scams, those who 'always' check for phishing signs fell from 51% to 36% over five years.
The Cognitive Ceiling, we're hitting a mental limit. Between 2022 and 2025, the percentage of people who feel so overwhelmed by security information continues to increase, so much so. that they minimise their protection.
The Fatalism Spike, 'my data's already out there, so why bother?' This fatalistic belief surged from 22% in 2023 to 34% in 2025, turning a rational risk into a reason for apathy.
The Cost Barrier, when you're feeling bad about things, you don't want to pay more money for security that feels like a luxury you can't afford. Over half of us (53%) now see the cost of tools and software as a major barrier, up from 43% in 2021.
The Criminal gangs and state actors who launch attacks on government and business are improving. CybSafe are telling us that our attitudes and behaviours are getting worse. The world is not in great shape at all, it appears that our guard is down.
At every level of society; personal, family, school, business and government, we must look at some of our neighbours in Finland and Estonia about their approach. Engaging citizens through every communication channel and developing a third force outside of the normal services are part of their strategy.
We have untapped resources in the female and neurodiverse populations who can make a huge difference to support the beleaguered services in the private and public sector. We must set cyber security in the right direction in 2026.
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at [email protected] now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at [email protected] now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.