The latest Cyber Security Threats you should watch out for in 2024
Cybersecurity threats can be described as malicious actions carried out by individuals with the intention of stealing, leaking, encrypting, or causing disruptions to digital data and computer systems.
There has been a significant surge in the pace of technological advancements in various fields, and the range of cyber threats is no exception to this pattern. Experts agree that artificial intelligence will play an increasingly vital role for both attackers and defenders. In addition, with the rapid pace of technological advancement, it is anticipated that ransomware will remain a persistent threat in the foreseeable future.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Threats
The volume of generative AI-driven reconnaissance, exploitation, and phishing attacks is expected to increase. Although AI is a powerful tool, it can be susceptible to data manipulation, and businesses should be aware that AI can also be a potential threat. This is because AI relies heavily on its training data. If the data undergoes change or becomes corrupted, an AI-powered tool may generate unforeseen or potentially harmful results.
One example of an attack involves hackers manipulating chatbots and producing harmful and offensive content.
Ransomware
In the coming years, both emerging and established cybercriminal groups will increasingly use ransomware as a service, simplifying the process of conducting advanced cyber-attacks. Additionally, these groups will employ developing extortion tactics such as double and triple extortion, which is a type of cyberattack where ransomware and extortionware are combined to increase the amount of money an individual is forced to pay and therefore, putting pressure on victims by threatening to leak sensitive data.
Ransomware attacks will specifically target industries such as healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure. To effectively defend against ransomware, organisations should prioritise several key measures. These include regularly updating systems, implementing reliable backup solutions, conducting employee training on cybersecurity practices, and considering the adoption of cyber insurance.
Modern Phishing
The evolution of phishing attacks that employ social engineering techniques and personalised messages to deceive individuals into disclosing sensitive information or engaging with malicious files is an ongoing trend and will still be prominent in 2024.
Criminals are employing artificial intelligence to automate their campaigns and to customise their messages with targeted information. They are also using AI to create persuasive content, including deep fakes, and automatically learn from successes.