In 2024, organizations worldwide experienced a significant surge in cyberattacks, both in frequency and sophistication. According to Check Point Research, the average weekly cyberattacks per organization reached an all-time high of 1,876, marking a 75% increase from the same period in 2023 and a 15% rise from the previous quarter. These statistics highlight the growing cybersecurity threats in 2024 that organizations must prepare for.
Industry-Specific Data
- Education and Research: This sector was the most targeted, with an average of 3,828 weekly attacks per organization.
- Government and Military: Organizations in this sector faced approximately 2,553 weekly attacks.
- Healthcare: The healthcare sector experienced around 2,434 weekly attacks.
Geographical Insights
- Africa: Organizations faced an average of 3,370 attacks per week in 2024, a 90% increase from the previous year.
- Asia-Pacific (APAC): Experienced 2,863 weekly attacks per organization, a 55% rise year-over-year. Countries like China, Japan, and India were primary targets, with critical infrastructure and financial sectors being the most affected.
- Latin America: Saw 2,844 weekly attacks per organization, a 72% increase.
- Europe: Recorded 1,557 weekly attacks per organization, an 86% rise.
- North America: Faced 1,298 weekly attacks per organization, a 55% increase. This increase is part of the broader pattern of cybersecurity threats in 2024.
Prevalent Types of Cyberattacks in 2024
- Ransomware Attacks:
- Over 1,230 ransomware incidents were reported, with North America being the most affected, accounting for 57% of all reported incidents.
- The manufacturing sector was the most impacted, representing 30% of these attacks, showing the prevalence of cybersecurity threats in 2024.
- Phishing Attacks:
- These attacks remained prevalent, with cybercriminals employing more sophisticated techniques, including spear phishing and whaling, to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information.
- Malware Attacks:
- The deployment of malicious software, such as viruses, worms, trojans, and ransomware, continued to be a significant threat, compromising systems and data integrity.
- Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks:
- These attacks aimed to overwhelm and disrupt services, making them unavailable to users, highlighting major cybersecurity threats in 2024.
- The increasing availability of botnets made launching such attacks easier for cybercriminals.
- Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs):
- Sophisticated, long-term targeted attacks carried out by well-resourced threat actors aimed to steal sensitive information from organizations.
Notable Incidents
- Smiths Group Cyberattack: Smiths Group, a global engineering and technology company, experienced a significant cyberattack affecting its systems worldwide in 2024. The company isolated the affected systems and activated business continuity plans in response.
- Change Healthcare Ransomware Attack: Change Healthcare faced a massive ransomware attack disrupting healthcare services and affecting over 100 million people, one of the significant cybersecurity threats in 2024.
Emerging Trends
- Increased Targeting of Small Businesses and Educational Institutions: Cybercriminals increasingly targeted small businesses and private schools, exploiting their often limited cybersecurity measures.
- Rise in AI-Enhanced Phishing: The use of artificial intelligence enabled more convincing phishing attacks, increasing their success rates. This is just another facet of the cybersecurity threats in 2024.
Conclusion
The data from 2024 underscores the escalating cyber threat landscape, highlighting the critical need for organizations to bolster their cybersecurity measures and remain vigilant against evolving threats. As cybersecurity threats in 2024 become more sophisticated, a proactive approach to threat intelligence, employee training, and the adoption of advanced security technologies will be crucial for safeguarding sensitive data and operational continuity. Book a meeting with Cyber Space and be safe.
