Digital threats awaiting us in 2024

Digital security firm ESET has published a report on the cyber threats we may encounter in 2024. According to the report, ransomware, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence will be the tools most used by cybercriminals.

The ESET research team stated that they expect ransomware actors to be more active and aggressive in their ransom demands throughout 2024. Furthermore, they do not expect new major players to emerge within cybercrime gangs in 2024. Instead, they predict that existing groups will work in collaboration to organize more complex and harmful attacks.

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Malware related to the Internet of Things (IoT) will also pose a significant risk in 2024 and beyond. Smart devices could be easily exploited to create anonymous networks for large DDoS attacks or for the targeted tracking of VIP users. End users, however, ignore the fact that smart devices can be used for illegal activities because such activities do not directly affect their user experience.

Artificial intelligence will be a technology that cybercriminals use as both an attack and a defense tool. The ESET research team has observed indicators that cybercriminals are leveraging the expanding tools of generative AI to improve their existing attack campaigns, particularly when preparing content for fraud, phishing, or other manipulative activities targeting users. This trend is expected to accelerate in 2024, with AI playing a central role in creating the social engineering components of attacks. AI-driven tools could also have an accelerating effect in other areas, such as disinformation campaigns and deepfake campaigns used for political, ideological, or other purposes. It is predicted that generative AI could be used maliciously in the field of financial threats in the near future.

News Source: 12punto