Cybercriminals are quickly trading malware forransomware and may soon make a big push into hacking wearables andother Internet of Things devices, according to an annual threatreport from Santa Clara, Calif.-based network security companySonicWall.

Using data from the daily feeds of more than a million securitysensors in about 200 countries and territories, the reportindicates point-of-sale malware creation dropped by 93% from 2014to 2016. However, the use of ransomware — software that restrictsaccess to a computer or device until a ransom is paid — was 167times higher in 2016 than in 2015.

“It would be inaccurate to say the threat landscape eitherdiminished or expanded in 2016 — rather, it appears to have evolvedand shifted,” SonicWall President and CEO Bill Conner said.“Cybersecurity is not a battle of attrition; it's an arms race, andboth sides are proving exceptionally capable and innovative.”