The world of cybersecurity is always evolving, and 2024 was no exception. It was a year of complex attacks that kept security teams at companies around the world on their toes. Nation-state actors were still actively targeting sensitive information, but criminal hackers and hacktivists were also making their presence known. Perhaps most disturbing, however, were the increasingly successful attempts to compromise critical infrastructure and data, and the growing ability of attackers to disrupt business operations around the world.
Let's take a look at some of the most notable breaches of the year:
- Salt Typhoon Espionage Campaign: A Chinese state-sponsored group, dubbed Salt Typhoon, infiltrated major U.S. telecommunications providers, including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. The hackers were able to geolocate millions of Americans on a map and eavesdrop on their communications, focusing on politicians and other high-value targets. Politico
- Change Healthcare Ransomware Attack: The ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware gang, one of the most dangerous on the dark web, compromised Change Healthcare, a provider of healthcare information technology. More than 100 million patients had their records stolen, and the attackers asked for a whopping $22 million ransom. The attack caused significant disruption to healthcare services. JAMA Network
- Snowflake Data Breach: Thieves stole credentials that were used to access data stored on Snowflake's cloud platform. In addition to Ticketmaster, Santander Bank, and AT&T were also affected. Wired
- Microsoft Executive Email Compromise: A Russia-linked gang known as Midnight Blizzard launched a "password spray" attack on Microsoft executives, compromising email accounts associated with the software giant's legal and cybersecurity departments. The attackers likely were seeking intel on Microsoft's internal security and incident response processes. Microsoft
- IntelBroker's Breach of Acuity: In April 2024, the hacker group IntelBroker, with the help of partner gang Sanggiero, broke into the networks of U.S. government contractor Acuity. Classified data related to the Five Eyes intelligence alliance was stolen, exposing sensitive communications and contact information on officials. Wikipedia
These incidents are just a few examples of the many worrisome cybersecurity attacks of 2024. What they have in common is a sense of déjà vu: Each breach involves threats that have been warning flag for years, and they all demonstrate a disturbing ability to adapt and overcome.
As we move into 2025, one thing is certain: cybercriminals aren't getting tired - they're getting more creative and more dangerous. To stay ahead of these threats, we need to adapt and improve our defenses.
Here's a look at what to expect and how to prepare for 2025.
AI-powered attacks
Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and artificial intelligence is the key enabler for the most dangerous threats. AI-powered phishing attacks can craft emails that perfectly mimic those it's hackers sent before, generate malware that passes popular malware detection tools with flying colors. It can also analyze massive troves of stolen data to help social media troll farms create more effective disinformation.
Why it’s a concern?
AI tools are easier to acquire than ever, making it a level playing field for cybercriminals. Many tasks that previously required a sophisticated understanding of hacking techniques and tools can be accomplished with user-friendly AI-powered software. This means breachers and amateur hackers can be just as dangerous as nation-state spies and experienced career criminals.
How to prepare:
- Deploy AI-powered security solutions that can detect and respond to attacks.
- Implement continuous monitoring to identify suspicious activity in real-time.
- Train employees regularly to teach them how to recognize and react to new and evolving threats.
Business email compromise attacks (BEC)
Phishing is the classic cyberattack that never goes out of style. It exploits human nature and is usually the weakest link in any security framework. Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes are a particularly dangerous form of phishing. Instead of casting a wide net, attackers tailor their emails to specific businesses, targeting employees, accounting managers, and CEOs.
Why it’s a concern?
BEC attacks are among the most financially devastating cyber threats. With no need for malware, these scams often bypass traditional security defenses, leading to significant financial losses and breaches of sensitive data. For many organizations, recovering from such incidents can be both costly and time-consuming, potentially crippling operations and reputations.
How to prepare:
- Deploy email authentication protocols like DMARC, SPF, and DKIM to help prevent phishing email spoofing.
- Train employees regularly to teach them how to identify phishing emails and scams like BEC and CEO Fraud.
- Develop and test incident response plans to respond quickly and effectively in the event of a supply chain attack or BEC attack.
Supply chain attacks
Supply chain attacks take advantage of connections between businesses, targeting trusted partners and vendors to gain access to larger organizations. Malware-infested software updates, hardware manufactured with backdoors, and unfixed vulnerabilities in vendor systems are just a few examples of how attacks can spread.
Why it’s a concern
One vulnerability in your supply chain can affect multiple partners and put your organization at risk. These attacks are especially dangerous because they exploit trusted relationships, making them extremely difficult to detect. The ripples can cause data breaches, operational shutdowns, and serious financial and reputational damage.
How to prepare:
- Thoroughly background and assess third-party vendors before allowing them into your supply chain.
- Implement zero-trust policies to limit connectivity and mitigate the impact of a breach.
- Perform regular security assessments to identify and fix vulnerabilities in your supply chain.
IoT Device hacking
IoT device hacking involves exploiting vulnerabilities in every gadget that connects to the internet. Whether it's a smart thermostat or a security camera, each device is a potential backdoor into your sensitive data. Home and office devices often link to corporate networks, making them even more dangerous.
Why it’s a concern
IoT devices are everywhere, and their numbers are exponentially increasing. Whether it's a factory floor, an office building, or a home office, you can't eliminate the risk of IoT devices. Each one is a potential attack vector, and when they're linked to your business network, the damage from a hack can be severe.
How to prepare:
- Change out vulnerable gadgets for newer, more secure models. If that's not possible, update their passwords and configure them securely.
- Regularly update firmware to patch vulnerabilities.
- Isolate IoT devices with network segmentation.
- Deploy remote Mobile Device Management (MDM) to secure and manage employee-owned mobile devices that access corporate resources.
Cloud-based attacks
Cloud-based attacks exploit the systems and services businesses use to access, process, and store data. Many involve misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, or poor security practices. The results can be devastating, whether it's a data breach, ransomware attack, or denial-of-service that takes down a virtual machine or entire cloud infrastructure.
Why it’s a concern
As more business processes move to the cloud, your exposure to attack increases. Cloud services are convenient and scalable, but they're also prime targets because they store so much sensitive data. A breach can cause downtime, ruin customer trust, and result in significant financial losses.
How to prepare:
- Implement strong identity and access management practices to limit access.
- Encrypt data both in transit and at rest.
- Perform regular cloud security audits to hunt for vulnerabilities.
Bonus: Zero-day vulnerabilities
Zero-day vulnerabilities are software flaws that are unknown to the software vendor and, therefore, remain unpatched. Cybercriminals often target zero-day vulnerabilities because they can exploit them before anyone is aware of the weakness. This gives them a significant head down time to breach systems, disrupt operations, and exfiltrate sensitive data before a patch is even available.
Why it’s a concern
Zero-day attacks aren't limited to software vendors. Many businesses rely on third-party software, and if it's popular, it's likely attackers are exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities in it. When a zero-day exploit is discovered in widely-used software like a transfer agent, the damage can be massive. The 2024 MOVEit Transfer zero-day vulnerability, for example, caused data breaches at hundreds of organizations around the world.
How to prepare:
- Deploy intrusion detection systems to look for malicious activity and potential exploitation.
- Keep all software and systems up to date to limit your exposure when a patch is available.
- Work with cybersecurity vendors that provide threat intelligence and notification about zero-day attacks.
- Develop a comprehensive incident response plan to limit the impact of a breach.
Prepare, adapt, and protect
These attack types have been so effective lately that they're all cybercriminals seem to use anymore. But let's not forget - new attack types can emerge at any time. That's why it's so important to be proactive and stay ahead of threats. And don't forget about phishing - it's a classic for a reason and still the most common way hackers infiltrate businesses. Stay informed, train your employees, and keep your devices up to date.
