New forms of attack are being introduced faster than ever before with new forms of cybersecurity threat appearing frequently. How Safe Is Your Data?
When we consider what is currently known about the cyber threats and defenses that will be relevant in 2024, it is evident that it is crucial for everyone to understand these to protect their assets.
This article focuses on the most important cyber threats that are likely to exist in the year 2024, in addition to the newest defense techniques that may help counter them.
The malware of ransomware will persist in threatening society and organizations
One type of malware that has emerged as a threat in recent years is ransomware which encrypts the victim’s files in exchange for a ransom. In 2022, a sharp rise in ransomware attacks was recorded and new variants are evolving, more enhanced.
This is one of the significant reasons why ransomware is anticipated to cause even more damage in 2024, particularly through mobile malicious attachments and IoT gateways. Offline backups shall remain the best insurance against the file-encrypting ransomware.
Still, the solutions that build on blockchain and advanced analytics will appear to help with recovery and attribution.
Supply chain attacks are poised to become more frequent and potent in the near future
A type of attack that targets the software supply chain by lodging malware into routine software distribution channels was a big issue in 2021, especially with the SolarWinds cyberattack.
The extent of codes already in use in today’s software development will offer the attackers a large pool of targets for supply chain attacks as they transition to the year 2024.
Preventing or validating the origins of the software components and the automated detection of the malware while building are the main barriers of the supply chain attack.
More complex threats are likely to emerge in Service Cloud Services
Since data is being stored in public clouds, then cloud services will become an ideal soffit for execution of cyber crimes. Future threats such as cloud crypto jacking and other types of data intrusion forms are anticipated.
Prior traditional IT security instruments are mostly useless when it comes to public cloud security, but new systems like CWPPs will deliver specific security for the cloud. Microsegmentation, EDR and zero trust access also reduce the damage of cloud threats that bypass perimeter defense mechanisms.
New technologies and applications have their weaknesses and these are likely to be exploited in future
New technologies including 5G, VR, IoT, AI and quantum computing will be inclined to severe security threats if security is not factored as a fundamental consideration in their systems.
These technologies can be attacked and the malicious actors will wait for opportunities to break the systems and maybe in the future trigger cyber-physical attacks.
The “shift-left” security that is to start checking for software vulnerabilities at the stages of their development will be decisive as well as the development of the simulation to find out new attack angles in the new systems before their implementation.
Deepfakes and synthetic identities will enhance Social Engineering
Techniques such as generative adversarial networks (GANs) that are at the core of deep learning enable the generation of high-resolution and highly realistic deepfakes in images, video, audio, and text.
These can facilitate highly persuasive social engineering scenarios. Likewise, AI can enable attackers to create synthetic identity with proper social media, which would give them credibility.
In 2024, the deep fake technology will continue to progress and become easier to use, and as such, institutions will require a tool that can identify the manipulated media as it relates to their structure.
Conclusion
It must be expected that threats in cyberspace will only become more versatile and numerous as the information technology’s progresses.
From ransomware to cloud and supply chain attacks, the threat actors continue to have a growing number of available vectors they can exploit to achieve financial objectives, create disruption or gain access to sensitive information.
Protecting against new generation cyber threats is an endurance where the attacker develops a new strategy which needs a new tactic and specific protection tools to identify, alert and contain the threats once the perimeter has been breached.
As cloud and on-premises solutions integrate visibility, analytics, and controls into cybersecurity mesh architectures, an organization’s key data and IT resources will be well protected against threats that may emerge in 2024 and beyond.