2024 Cyber Threat Landscape: The Evolving Challenges and New Year’s Resolutions

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In the past year, we witnessed a profound transformation in the cyber threat landscape driven by a growing demand for comprehensive global threat intelligence. Geopolitical and economic shifts have cast a complex and uncertain shadow over businesses and individuals alike. As technology advances, so too do the tactics of malicious actors, with new threats emerging on a global scale and innovative methods being employed to exploit vulnerabilities.

As we look ahead, it becomes increasingly clear that the specter of ransomware continues to haunt organizations worldwide, growing in both scale and sophistication. Threat actors collaborate and form alliances, making these cyberattacks even more formidable. Meanwhile, socially engineered tactics are becoming increasingly refined and personalized, posing challenges for both victims and security solutions.

In anticipation of the year ahead, the Trellix Advanced Research Center has released its highly anticipated 2024 Threat Predictions report, offering invaluable insights into emerging trends, tactics, and threats that organizations must be poised to address.

According to John Fokker, Head of Threat Intelligence at Trellix Advanced Research Center, the present cyber landscape is “more complex than ever before.” Cybercriminals, ranging from ransomware groups to nation-state actors, are demonstrating increased intelligence, agility, and coordination in adapting their strategies to new threats. This relentless evolution of cyber threats is not expected to wane in 2024.

To effectively counter these escalating threats, industries across the board must embrace cybersecurity strategies characterized by vigilance, actionable insight, and adaptability to emerging threats. This approach is essential for gaining a proactive edge over cybercriminals in the coming year.

A significant shift in threat actor behavior is evident, with cybercriminals continuously adjusting their tactics to exploit fresh vulnerabilities and maximize their gains. Businesses must remain vigilant and aware of the latest trends to safeguard their systems and data effectively.

In a continually shifting cybersecurity landscape, it is paramount for organizations and individuals to remain well-informed about emerging threats. This awareness is crucial for effectively protecting themselves and their systems in an age where digital dangers are ever-present and ever-adapting.

The Rapidly Evolving Threat Landscape of 2024

In an article by Cyber Magazine, they wrote, “ In the last year, the cybersecurity landscape has seen a dramatic transformation. The growing demand for effective, worldwide threat intelligence continues to intensify as geopolitical and economic developments create an increasingly complicated and uncertain world for both businesses and consumers.

With the development of new technology, malicious actors continue to adapt, and new players and threats emerging across the globe – coupled with innovative methods of exploiting or deploying existing tactics and strategies.

Going forward, cybersecurity professionals must recognize that no organization or individual is truly safe from cyber attacks, and the urgency to monitor these rapidly evolving threats is becoming increasingly pressing.

Predictions for 2024

Ransomware remains an ongoing problem for organizations worldwide as these malware families grow in size and complexity, including through collaboration and partnerships with other threat actors through underground forums. Socially engineered tactics designed to manipulate and deceive individuals into compromising their devices or personal information are becoming increasingly sophisticated and targeted, making it more challenging for both victims and security tools to detect and identify them.

The researchers from the Trellix Advanced Research Center have released their 2024 Threat Predictions report, compiled with their predictions for trends, tactics, and threats that organizations should be aware of as we approach the new year.

“The cyber landscape today is more complex than ever before,” says John Fokker, Head of Threat Intelligence at Trellix Advanced Research Center. “Cybercriminals from ransomware families to nation-state actors are getting smarter, quicker, and more coordinated in retooling their tactics to follow new schemes — and we don’t anticipate that changing in 2024.”

“In order to break away from escalating attacks and start outsmarting and outmaneuvering threat actors, all industries need to embrace a cyber strategy that is constantly vigilant, actionably comprehensible, and adaptable to new threats. That is how we can ensure a one-step lead over cybercriminals in the coming year.” 

What are we expecting to see in 2024?

When moving into 2024, Trellix considers the threat of artificial intelligence to be something that organizations should be wary of. One of the biggest concerns is the development of malicious large language models (LLMs), as these AI systems are trained on massive amounts of text data, can generate human-quality text, translate languages, and even write different kinds of creative content. While LLMs have many beneficial applications, they can also be used for malicious purposes, such as spreading misinformation, creating fake news, and conducting cyberattacks.

As well as this, a shift in threat actor behavior is another area for businesses to be conscious of, as cybercriminals are constantly adapting their tactics and techniques to exploit new vulnerabilities and maximize their gains. As a result, organizations need to be aware of the latest trends to stay ahead of the curve and protect their systems and data.
When looking to the future, the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity means that new threats and attack methods are constantly emerging.

Therefore, it is crucial for organizations and individuals alike to stay aware of these emerging threats in order to protect themselves and their systems.”

12 Cyber Security New Year’s Resolutions

In an article by DaisyUK, they wrote, “Many of us are looking forward and thinking of resolutions to set some good habits and improvements for the coming year. If your organization could improve its cyber security defenses, then these 12 cyber security New Year’s resolutions are for you.

1. Keep an eye out for increased DDoS attacks.
Even with Black Friday and Cyber Monday out of the way, this is still a busy time for online shopping. Particularly if your organization deals in online retail, watch out for DDoS attacks. A website outage in this vital period could have an outsized effect on your end-of-year revenue. Make sure your cyber solution has robust DDoS protection.
2. Watch out for an increased amount of phishing attacks.
Especially those themed around Christmas and New Year. Phishing emails are constantly improving and evolving, making it harder to separate the real from the fake. This time of year, we always see an increase in the number of attacks and advancement in the tricks being used. It is also easier to trick unsuspecting users into handing over their details or access to their network, as people tend to be in a rush so they can enjoy the holiday season. Remember to pause and take your time.
3. Avoid unsecured WiFi networks.
Out doing some last minute shopping and need to jump on some WiFi? Be careful which network you connect to, especially if you have to create an account with a provider you’ve not heard of. As always, don’t use the same password for all your accounts, particularly business accounts! It only takes one password being leaked to compromise the lot.
4. Beware when buying online.
With so much shopping done online, that means an increase in e-commerce fraud. Be sure that the website you are buying from is official and secure. Look for the ‘https’ at the start of the URL; many browsers will also display a padlock symbol to signify a secure website. Be extra careful of your employees shopping online on work devices, but more on that later.
5. Be suspicious of online ads.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Top-end tech toys and designer clothes are unlikely to be heavily discounted this time of year, so don’t rush to grab deals and forget basic online cybersecurity practices.
6. Don’t forget social engineering.
All year round, this is a significant threat. Some studies have found as many as 90% of cyber incidents arise from human error. In many ways, the biggest threat to your organization is your employees or even yourself.
7. Never BYOD!
Bring Your Own Device is a massive cause of data breaches. Allowing employees to use their own unregulated, unmonitored, and unstandardized devices to handle confidential work-related business is an accident waiting to happen.
8. Never use your work device for personal use.
By sticking to the usual uses for work laptops and mobiles and avoiding shopping, streaming, and downloading when unnecessary, you can minimize the risk of a breach.
9. Don’t delay software and device updates.
Make sure you always update as soon as is practical. That doesn’t mean you need to drop everything you are doing as soon as an update is available, but it’s important to carry out updates and patches as soon as is reasonably possible, these updates often carry vital fixes to recently found vulnerabilities.
10. Check that your cloud storage is secure.
Be aware that your data is only as safe as the weakest link in the chain. It’s no use spending on an impenetrable network for your organization if you’re going to store vital information with the cheapest cloud provider you can find. Research the security of third-party suppliers.
11. Use multi-factor authentication.
This one’s a no-brainer and is often the first thing we recommend to an organization looking to improve their cyber security. MFA makes brute-force password attacks no longer viable and exponentially improves your security with little effort or cost.
12. Don’t forget the basics – passwords!
Make sure your organization is using a robust password system. A long password featuring upper and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers is best. Randomized passwords are tough but very hard to remember. Use a series of words or a phrase and swap out and add some characters:

Bad – newyearseve123
Good – H@PP7NewY3@r£!

One final tip…
Think of your data and applications like your life savings – what more can you do to protect them?”

Conclusion

As we step into 2024, the ever-shifting cyber threat landscape continues to pose complex challenges to organizations and individuals worldwide. The demand for global threat intelligence has never been higher, driven by geopolitical shifts and economic uncertainties. Malicious actors are becoming increasingly sophisticated and collaborative, making it imperative for everyone to stay informed and proactive.

Ransomware remains a persistent threat, growing in scale and complexity, while socially engineered tactics become more refined, making it harder to detect and defend against cyberattacks. The Trellix Advanced Research Center’s 2024 Threat Predictions report offered valuable insights into emerging trends and threats, emphasizing the need for adaptable cybersecurity strategies.

Artificial intelligence introduces new concerns, especially with the potential misuse of large language models for malicious purposes. Threat actors continuously adapt their tactics, exploiting vulnerabilities to maximize their gains, necessitating constant awareness of evolving trends.
Organizations and individuals must prioritize cybersecurity as a New Year’s resolution in this ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Implementing measures such as DDoS protection, vigilant phishing detection, secure Wi-Fi usage, and strong password policies are essential steps in safeguarding against cyber threats.

Cybersecurity is not just a responsibility; it’s an ongoing commitment to protecting our digital world. In 2024, let’s resolve to be cyber-smart and ensure that our data and systems remain safe from harm.

At Adaptive Office Solutions, cybersecurity is our specialty. We keep cybercrimes at bay by using analysis, forensics, and reverse engineering to prevent malware attempts and patch vulnerability issues. By making an investment in multilayered cybersecurity, you can leverage our expertise to boost your defenses, mitigate risks, and protect your data with next-gen IT security solutions.

Every device connecting to the internet poses a cyber security threat, including that innocent-looking smartwatch you’re wearing. Adaptive’s wide range of experience and certifications fills the gaps in your business’s IT infrastructure and dramatically increases the effectiveness of your cybersecurity posture.

Using our proactive cybersecurity management, cutting-edge network security tools, and comprehensive business IT solutions, you can lower your costs through systems that are running at their prime, creating greater efficiency and preventing data loss and costly downtime. With Adaptive Office Solutions by your side, we’ll help you navigate the complexities of cybersecurity so you can achieve business success without worrying about online threats.

To schedule a Cyber Security Risk Review, call the Adaptive Office Solutions’ hotline at 506-624-9480 or email us at helpdesk@adaptiveoffice.ca

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