Cybercrime remains at the top of revenue-generating activities
Information leaks, phishing, and ransomware among the most alarming trends
The cybersecurity threat landscape is constantly changing, and 2024 will be no exception. Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and organizations of all sizes need to be prepared to defend themselves.
Phishing: the most used tactic by cybercriminals
Phishing remains the most common attack method used by cybercriminals, accounting for 74% of fraud incidents in 2023. This technique involves sending fraudulent emails or text messages that appear to come from a trusted source, such as a bank or company, to trick victims into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or bank details.
Unauthorized use of trademarks: a growing danger
The unauthorized use of trademarks, such as the counterfeiting of websites or products, is positioned as the second most common type of attack, with 17% of incidents in 2023. Cybercriminals take advantage of the reputation of recognized brands to deceive consumers and obtain illicit profits or steal personal information.
Data leaks: a risk with serious consequences
Data leaks, where confidential data is exposed, experienced a 322% increase in 2023, representing 9% of total incidents. These leaks can have a devastating impact on organizations, including:
- Reputational damage: The loss of trust of customers and business partners can be irreparable.
- Legal costs: Fines and penalties for non-compliance with data protection regulations can be significant.
- Identity theft and fraud: Exposed data can be used to commit financial fraud or steal the identity of affected individuals.
Other frequent threats
There is an increase in information disclosure attacks. Information disclosure attacks are expected to continue to grow in frequency and impact. These attacks can have a significant impact on organizations, as the exposed data could be exploited for malicious purposes, such as identity theft, financial fraud, or corporate espionage.
There is a growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) by cybercriminals. Cybercriminals are increasingly using AI to automate their attacks and make them more difficult to detect. Organizations need to be aware of the latest AI-powered threats and take steps to protect themselves.
Another danger is the exploitation of vulnerabilities in the supply chain. Organizations need to ensure that they are taking steps to protect their supply chain from attacks.
Ransomware attacks are a type of cyberattack in which cybercriminals encrypt a victim’s data and demand a ransom to decrypt it. Ransomware attacks are expected to continue to increase in frequency and severity in 2024.
How to protect yourself in 2024
Organizations can take several steps to protect themselves from cyber threats in 2024:
- Implement a holistic approach to fraud: Organizations should adopt a holistic approach to fraud that includes prevention, detection, and response.
- Leverage the sensors that each party has (user, device, transaction/event) to create a unique and continuous assessment of the session.
- Adopt a comprehensive approach to integrating advanced fraud prevention technologies.
- Use AI-powered intelligence and real-time monitoring.
- Stay informed about the latest cyber threats.
- Train employees on cybersecurity.
- Conduct regular security tests.
- Have an incident response plan.
- Zero Trust is a security model based on the principle of maintaining strict access controls and not trusting anyone by default, not even those who are already within the network perimeter, and is the concept that the Appgate company works with.
