Cybercrime Surges in 2024 Amid AI-Driven Attacks
Cyberattacks targeting sensitive data surged in 2024, driven by AI-powered threats, ransomware evolution, and geopolitical conflicts. Deep Instinct’s 2025 Threat Report: The Changing Face of Global Threats highlights a 30% increase in global cyberattacks compared to 2023. Moving into the future – the report predicts a continued rise in AI-enhanced cyber threats, an expanding attack surface, and increasingly professionalized cybercrime networks in 2025.
Ransomware Dominates, Targeting Healthcare and Finance
Ransomware remained the top cyber threat in 2024. The Threat Report notes that the healthcare and financial sectors faced the most attacks due to their sensitive data and critical services. High-profile incidents included a $100 million ransom demand at India’s Regional Cancer Center and a $22 million payout by Change Healthcare in the U.S.
The rise of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) allowed cybercriminals to scale attacks by selling access to ransomware tools. LockBit 3.0, RansomHub, and Akira were among the most active ransomware groups.
AI Powers Cybercrime, Creating “Unknown” Threats
AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) enabled attackers to automate phishing, reconnaissance, and malware generation. AI-driven malware, capable of adapting in real-time, made traditional signature-based defenses ineffective. AI-assisted phishing campaigns also became more convincing, leveraging deepfake video and voice generation. All of this targets sensitive data.
Deep Instinct warns that 2025 will see an explosion of AI-generated “unknown” threats, requiring preemptive cybersecurity strategies.
Geopolitical Cyberwarfare Escalates
Nation-states see cyberattacks as a tool of modern warfare. The Threat Report highlights key incidents:
- Israel-Hamas War: Hackers targeted critical infrastructure and spread misinformation and disrupted services.
- Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Russian cyberattacks escalated against Ukraine and NATO allies. They target both military and governmental entities.
- China-Taiwan Tensions: Chinese hacking groups increased attacks on Taiwan, particularly during the January 2024 elections.
Vulnerabilities and Exploits Increase
The report identified 186 known exploited vulnerabilities in 2024, with Microsoft products accounting for nearly 20%. The rise of IoT devices introduced new attack vectors, with 30% of business network endpoints now IoT-based.
Predictions for 2025: The Cybersecurity Landscape Shifts
Deep Instinct’s research suggests five key trends in 2025:
- AI-Driven Attacks Will Increase: including AI genreated malware capable of evading detection.
- Cybercrime Will Operate Like Tech Startups: Ransomware groups will adopt corporate structures, making them more resilient.
- Digital Transformation Expands the Attack Surface: The growing volume of global data will increase cyber risks.
- IoT-Based Attacks Will Surge: Connected devices will be prime targets for hackers.
- Dual-Use Remote Management Tools Will Enable More Attacks: Cybercriminals will exploit legitimate IT tools for unauthorized access.
A Call for Proactive Cybersecurity
We’ve seen this advice in other reports, the call for organizations to shift from reactive security to a preemptive posture. In that vain, AI-powered cybersecurity, real-time anomaly detection, and zero-day data security frameworks will be essential in combating evolving cyber threats. Watch that sensitive data, or someone else will.
Other News: Looking Ahead: Netwrix Highlights Key Cybersecurity Threats for 2025(Opens in a new browser tab)
