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Cybercrime
Trends
2024

AI changed everything last year. Now, in 2024, the real battle begins: Who will harness the power of new technologies and the psychology of human behavior more effectively – us or the cybercriminals?

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Cybercrime Trends

As seen in

The 8 cybercrime trends to watch out for in 2024

AI is driving the professionalization of cybercrime

The professionalization of cybercrime continues to make steady progress and will reach a new level of maturity by 2024, thanks to the emergence of AI and new powerful technologies. Now is the time for organizations to invest in their security, as the developments of the past few years are just the beginning of an emerging future where cybercriminals will develop ever more sophisticated methods to achieve their goals.

Trend 1

AI’s growing role in cyberattacks

We are yet to see the full impact of generative AI in cyber security

Trend 2

Beyond AI

All new technologies like quantum computing and 5G will be exploited by cybercriminals

Trend 3

Cybercrime will transform

into an even more highly professionalized and profitable business

Global unrest is fueling a surge in cybercrime and misinformation threats

Cybercriminals and hacktivists are increasingly using these tumultuous times to advance their agendas, whether it’s to express dissent, support causes, or exploit situations for financial gain. With a significant increase in incidents and the use of disinformation-as-a-service (DaaS), the digital landscape has become a complex battleground. This escalation in cyber threats spares no sector, placing the public sector and critical infrastructure in a particularly vulnerable position.

Trend 4

Digital dissent

The hacktivist movement is gaining momentum in an increasingly fragmented world

Trend 5

Disinformation-as-a-service

to become a crucial tool in hackers’ arsenal to destabilize organizations

Trend 6

Challenges for various sectors

2024 will be a year of security challenges for the public sector and critical infrastructure

Throughout 2024, expect more breaches that involve the human element

Cybercriminals know that their greatest chance of success lies in playing on human emotions, and that’s why social engineering is at the core of their practices. With the professionalization of cybercrime and the rise of AI, cybercriminals can now create truly convincing and complex social engineering attacks. This makes it harder to tell the difference between genuine and malicious messages. And with more digital ways to communicate, these threats are spreading faster than ever.

Trend 7

Pretexting and multichannel tactics

will result in even more realistic and dangerous cyberattacks

Trend 8

Rising burnout rates

will challenge cyber security teams like never before

Security-best-practices checklist

But there’s more for you

The report doesn’t just highlight the problems. It also gives you practical advice on how to protect yourself from these threats in the form of a security-best-practices checklist.

Background

Cyber experts also weighed in on these trends

Criminals need ever fewer skills and organizational power to launch a highly effective attack, and that is going to be a huge problem for us.

Ralf Schneider

Ralf Schneider

Allianz Senior Fellow and Head of Cyber Security and NextGenIT Think Tank

When we analyze a threat, we need to look at two things: the intent of an actor and their capability. Events like the invasion of Ukraine have led to an intent of nation-states to use attacks to succeed in their war efforts. Regarding capability, we are seeing nation-states developing capabilities that end up being used against us.

John Noble

John Noble

Non-executive director and chair of the Cyber Security Committee of NHS Digital in England

Read the full report

Includes two full-length interviews and helpful security best practices – so your organization can stay ahead of the latest cybercrime trends.

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The Forrester Wave™ Strong Performer 2024: Human Risk Management Solutions