Hackers most likely to hit video streaming, gaming: Tech company

Video streaming and gaming are among the top sectors that are most likely to experience a hack attack, according to the latest research from Akamai Technologies, a leading content delivery network services provider.

Hackers are very attracted to the high profile and value of online streaming services, said Patrick Sullivan, director of Akamai's Security Technology and Strategy.

Stolen credentials can be used for a host of illicit purposes, not the least of which is enabling non-subscribers to view content via pirated streaming accounts. Compromised accounts are also sold, traded or harvested for various types of personal information, and they are often available for purchase in bulk on the Dark Web, according to the latest Akamai research.

Besides, the gaming community is among the fastest-rising targets for credential stuffing attacks and one of the most lucrative targets for criminals looking to make a quick profit. During Nov 2017 to March 2019, Akamai saw a total of 55 billion credential stuffing attacks across all industries.

As Chinese companies increasingly branch out overseas, they are increasingly facing technological obstacles and security threats that differ from operating on their home turf, said Chandler Zhang, regional sales manager of the media division at Akamai China.

Technological challenges vary between short video apps and longer-form video sites, as the former require instant start-up time and the latter should avoid video streaming lagging, Zhang noted, adding that the most important factor for gaming companies is the in-time update of service packs.

"As Chinese tech firms reach out to overseas markets, they should take into consideration the different technical requirements to navigate the respective markets, especially in regions where the IT infrastructure is mediocre or not ideal," he said.