Report Predicts Most Prevalent Cybersecurity Threats for 2024
Posted on Mar 27, 2024
Cyber attackers are becoming more sophisticated, utilizing advanced techniques such as social engineering, ransomware, and other methods to breach organizations’ defenses. As new threats and tactics arise, organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to stay ahead and establish effective defenses. Understanding the specific threats relevant to your industry is crucial in today’s ever-evolving threat landscape.
Ontinue has published a report outlining emerging cybersecurity threats, based on the analysis of approximately 600,000 endpoints to identify the most prevalent threats and forecast future ones. The report highlights the following key findings:
- Almost 50% of analyzed ransomware incidents were targeted at the construction and information technology (IT) sectors.
- LockBit was identified as one of the most active ransomware groups, with 8Base focusing on small and midsized businesses.
- Ransomware attacks grew in complexity with the increased use of double-extortion techniques.
- Malicious actors exploited inadequate IoT security for activities such as DDoS attacks, botnet attacks, and unauthorized access.
- AI presented a new challenge as threat actors used this technology to circumvent traditional security measures or create realistic deepfake content.
- Social engineering tactics were used to exploit human vulnerabilities and posed a significant threat to organizations.
In addition to discussing current trends, the report also offers predictions for emerging trends in 2024:
- AI will continue to be exploited for advanced attack techniques, including social engineering ploys and biometric security evasion.
- Mobile devices will increasingly be targeted for exploiting access points and credentials.
- Increasing instances of hacktivism and hacks-for-hire are anticipated.
- Ransomware operations will evolve in terms of methods and extorted information.
The report emphasizes that phishing, social engineering, and vulnerability exploitation are the most common threats across all industries. Staff training and awareness are crucial defenses against phishing and social engineering, while regular patching, vulnerability scanning, and network assessments should be conducted frequently.
The rise of IoT devices has introduced new attack vectors. Securing connected devices is essential to prevent botnet exploitation, DDoS attacks, and unauthorized access. Protecting consumer data must be a priority for organizations.
As AI and ML technologies advance, threat actors are leveraging them for malicious purposes. Defending these systems against exploitation requires algorithmic defenses, robust training data, and continuous security research.
The report recommends the following cybersecurity best practices to enhance security posture and mitigate cyber threats:
- Regular Software Updates and Patch Management
- Strong Access Controls and Authentication
- Employee Training and Awareness
- Regular Data Backups and Disaster Recovery Planning
- Network Segmentation and Monitoring
For a more in-depth analysis, access the full report here!
Staying informed about emerging trends and implementing best practices is essential to enhancing security efforts in 2024. Increasing user awareness through education and initiatives is vital in identifying and preventing cybersecurity attacks, reducing vulnerability significantly.
If you missed it, check out this article on recent highlights from the FBI and CISA’s cybersecurity advisory, as well as key takeaways from cyberattacks on MGM and Caesars’ casinos. Visit our AV/IT room for more related articles!