As we step into 2024, the cyber landscape continues to evolve at an alarming rate. The emerging trends in cybersecurity in 2024 as drawn from the Google Cloud Cybersecurity Forecast 2024 are not only indicative of how the situation is developing but also hint at possible defenses that individuals, private entities, and governmental organizations can deploy. Here's a glimpse into some of these cybersecurity future trends of 2024:
1. Rising Zero-Day Vulnerability Exploits
A zero-day security vulnerability is a gap that has been revealed to the world but is yet to be closed by authorities. A particularly worrying cybersecurity trend of 2024 is the increase in zero-day vulnerability use, Historically, cybersecurity trends revolving around zero-day vulnerability have been climbing steadily since 2012. The year 2023 is on track to surpass the previous record set in 2021, and we expect this trend to continue into 2024. These vulnerabilities are exploited by both nation-state actors and cybercriminals, who seek to maintain long-term access to targeted environments.
2. Elections Security Issues Being Leveraged by State Actors
With major elections on the horizon in countries like the U.S., Taiwan, South Korea, India, and Indonesia, election security has become a major concern the world over. In fact, the risk of cyber espionage, misinformation campaigns, and phishing attacks has become particularly heightened. This underlines the need for robust cybersecurity measures around these pivotal events.
3. Cyber Threats to National Security of All Nations
Cyber threats are not limited by borders. The digital age has seen the rise of disinformation as a powerful tool for geopolitical influence, with nation state threat actors targeting other countries to spread misinformation and undermine democratic institutions.
4. Corporate and National Security of All Nations
Cyber espionage attacks are getting scaled up, creating additional operational security. Techniques like creating 'sleeper botnets' from vulnerable IoT and SOHO devices are becoming more common, complicating tracking and attribution efforts. What’s worth noting even more is that it isn’t only governmental organizations that are being targeted. There are instances of corporate cyber espionage too.
5. 2024 Summer Olympics: A Hotbed for Cybercriminals
The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris present a unique opportunity for cybercriminals. We anticipate a surge in phishing campaigns targeting ticketing systems and merchandise, highlighting the need for increased vigilance from public authorities and banks.
6. The Use of AI in Cybersecurity
The rapid evolution of generative AI presents a double-edged sword. While it offers new ways for attackers to conduct convincing phishing campaigns, the use of AI in cybersecurity also equips defenders with improved tools for the detection, response, and attribution of adversaries.
7. Global Political Tensions and Cybersecurity
The geopolitical landscape, with heightened tensions among nation state actors, is expected to see continued cyber activities ranging from espionage to cybercrime and information operations. Organizations need to be prepared for a diverse array of cyber threats, especially around significant global events like elections and the Olympics.
Emerging Trends in Cybersecurity in 2024 Demand Action from Private Organizations and Public Institutions
In the AI-enhanced threat landscape of 2024, staying vigilant and adaptive is key. Jericho Security offers a robust platform to prepare and empower your team against the latest AI-driven cyber threats. Equip your organization with our advanced tools and training to stay a step ahead in cybersecurity.
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*Insights adapted from Google Cloud Cybersecurity Forecast 2024.
