Cybersecurity threats: Main types and new threats in 2024

What is cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is a set of practices used to protect computer systems, networks, and data from digital attacks, unauthorized access, damage, or theft. It involves a range of strategies, technologies, and best practices designed to keep the information safe. It covers everything from password management to computer security tools.

Cyberattacks can lead to financial losses, compromised information, and service disruptions. Good cybersecurity is necessary to maintain trust and safety in digital activity and ensure that personal data remains private and critical infrastructure runs smoothly.

What are cyber threats?

You might be exposed to cybersecurity threats as soon as you connect your device to the internet. While some risks arise from human error, most are the result of threat actors operating with malicious intent.

Cyber threats can be direct, like hacking a computer network, or indirect, like spreading malware through a popular website. Anyone using digital technology can be affected. Individuals might face identity theft, financial loss, or privacy breaches from phishing attacks, malware, and scams. Businesses risk data breaches, theft of ideas, and disruptions, which lead to financial loss and reputational damage. Governments and public institutions can face espionage, infrastructure sabotage, and national security threats, like attacks on power grids or communication networks.

Types of cybersecurity threats

Let’s explore some of the most common cybersecurity threats currently active on the internet.

1. Malware

Malware is malicious software designed to compromise, damage, or disrupt systems. Here are the main types of malware:

• Viruses. Malicious software programs designed to replicate and spread from one computer to another. They often attach themselves to legitimate files. Once activated, viruses can corrupt or delete data and disrupt system operations.
• Trojans. They are deceptive malware programs that disguise themselves as legitimate software or files to gain access to a user’s system. Once inside, they can create backdoors for other malware, steal data, or harm the system. Unlike viruses, Trojans do not self-replicate and usually rely on social engineering to be installed.
• Ransomware. Ransomware attacks happen when a hacker encrypts a user’s files or locks their system and demands a ransom payment to restore access.
• Spyware. Software designed to monitor and collect information secretly without the user’s consent. It can track keystrokes and capture screenshots to steal sensitive data such as login credentials or financial details.
• Adware. Automatically displays or downloads unwanted advertisements to a user’s computer. While often less malicious than other types of malware, it can still affect system performance
• Cryptojacking. The unauthorized use of a person’s computer resources to mine cryptocurrency, often without the user’s knowledge. This type of malware can significantly slow down a system, increase power consumption, and cause hardware wear and tear.

To protect against malware attacks, always keep your software and operating system up to date, use strong antivirus programs, and avoid downloading or opening suspicious files or links.

Additionally, you can use NordVPN’s anti-phishing and anti-malware features, which will block dangerous websites, detect new threats, and provide protection across all your devices.

2. Phishing and social engineering

Phishing and social engineering use deceptive tactics to trick people into revealing confidential information. The most popular social engineering tactics in cyberspace include:

• Phishing. This type of scam uses fake emails or messages to trick people into giving away personal information like passwords or credit card numbers. These messages often look like they come from trusted sources.
• Spear phishing. It’s a targeted phishing attack aimed at a specific person or organization. The attacker customizes the message to make it look personal and relevant to increase the chances of fooling the victim.
• Whaling. Targeting high-level individuals, like executives, within an organization. These attacks are carefully crafted to exploit the authority and access of these critical people to steal sensitive data or money.
• Baiting. An attack that uses the promise of something enticing, like free software or downloads, to trick people into compromising their security. For example, an infected USB drive left in a public place or a malicious link in an ad can lead to malware installation or data theft.
• Pretexting. A technique in which the attacker invents a fake story or pretext to obtain information from the victim. They might pretend to be someone trustworthy, like a bank employee or tech support, to trick the victim into revealing sensitive details.
• Watering hole attacks. Done by tricking a specific group of people, or an organization, into visiting malicious websites and downloading malware by infecting websites that members of the group are known to visit.
• Scareware. Malicious software that tricks users into thinking their computer has a virus. It urges them to buy fake antivirus programs or provide personal information, using alarming messages to create fear and urgency.

3. Cyber intrusion strategies

Cyber intrusion strategies are techniques used to break into systems and disrupt the network or steal data. The most popular strategies include:

• Denial-of-service (DoS) and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. DoS attacks flood a system with so much traffic that it can’t handle legitimate requests, while DDoS attacks use many computers to overwhelm the system even more, causing major disruptions.
• DNS spoofing. An attack that tricks a computer into thinking it’s connecting to a legitimate website when it’s actually going to a malicious one.
• Credential stuffing. A cyberattack in which hackers use username and password combinations acquired in a data breach to gain unauthorized access to multiple accounts. They exploit the common practice of reusing passwords across different sites.
• Zero-day exploits. These attacks target weaknesses in software that are unknown to the developers and have no available fix. Attackers use these vulnerabilities to break into systems before the issue is resolved.
• Drive-by download attacks. Intrusions that happen when malicious software is automatically downloaded to a user’s device without their consent or knowledge. This can happen just by visiting an infected website or viewing a malicious email or ad. The attackers use weaknesses in web browsers, plugins, or operating systems to install the malware.
• Session hijacking. Attack when attackers take control of an active online session. They usually do this by stealing or guessing session cookies or tokens, which allows them to access the account as if they were the legitimate user.

4. Advanced persistent threats (APTs)

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are complex, long-term cyber threats trying to achieve specific goals. Unlike typical attacks, APTs work quietly over extended periods to gather sensitive information or accomplish strategic objectives. The main types of APTs are:

• State-sponsored attacks. Cyberattacks carried out by or for a government. They seek to achieve specific political, military, or economic objectives, often targeting the critical infrastructure, government agencies, or key industries of other countries.
• Corporate espionage. This type of attack happens when individuals or groups steal confidential business information to gain an edge over competitors. They gather confidential data by hacking into systems or using insiders.

5. Insider threats

Insider threats are risks that come from people within an organization. These can be categorized as:

• Malicious insiders. These are people within a company who intentionally misuse their access to damage the organization or steal information. These insiders may act out of personal gain, revenge, or as part of corporate espionage. Their actions can lead to significant data breaches, financial loss, and damage to the organization’s reputation.
• Negligent insiders. These are employees who accidentally cause problems due to carelessness or not paying attention. They may mishandle sensitive information, fall for phishing scams, or fail to follow security protocols. While their actions are not malicious, they can still lead to data leaks, system vulnerabilities, and other security issues.

6. Exploits and vulnerabilities

Attackers can take advantage of various exploits and vulnerabilities in systems that allow them to cause damage. These attacks can be:

• Buffer overflow. This attack happens when too much data is sent to a program, spilling over and corrupting nearby memory. Attackers can then run malicious code or crash the system.
• Privilege escalation. This happens when attackers exploit a vulnerability to gain higher levels of access than initially permitted. Attackers can then perform actions or access data they shouldn’t be able to.
• Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks. These attacks secretly intercept and possibly alter communications between two parties. Doing so allows attackers to steal or manipulate sensitive information being exchanged.
• Cross-site scripting (XSS). Attacks done by inserting harmful scripts into web pages that users visit. These scripts can steal information like cookies or login credentials from unsuspecting users.
• SQL injection. Attacks that target weaknesses in web forms by inserting malicious SQL commands, which can let attackers access or change data in the website’s database.
• Remote code execution (RCE). These attacks happen when hackers run malicious code on a target computer or server from a remote location. They use software flaws to take control of the system, which can lead to unauthorized access or damage.

7. Supply chain attacks

Supply chain attacks target organizations by exploiting weaknesses in third-party components or services they rely on. These attacks can compromise an organization by first breaching suppliers, vendors, or other partners and then using those connections to infiltrate the primary target. Supply chain attacks can include:

• Third-party software compromises. These attacks happen when attackers exploit weaknesses in software provided by outside vendors. This can lead to unauthorized access or data breaches in the central organization using that software.
• Hardware attacks. Such attacks involve tampering with or exploiting problems in physical devices like computers or network equipment. Attackers might add malicious hardware or exploit flaws to access or damage the system.

8. Identity and credential attacks

• Credential stuffing. Attackers use stolen usernames and passwords from one site to try and break into other accounts. Since people often use the same login details for multiple sites, attackers can access many accounts.
• Brute-force attacks. Attackers try many different passwords until they find the right one. This method can eventually crack passwords if they are weak or simple.
• Password spraying. Trying a few common passwords on many accounts. This method works well because it prevents getting locked out and targets accounts with simple passwords.

9. Devices and IoT attacks

Attacks targeting devices and IoT (Internet of Things) involve taking advantage of weaknesses in connected devices like smart home gadgets, cameras, and other networked equipment. These attacks can exploit security flaws in these devices to gain unauthorized access, steal sensitive information, or cause other problems. The most popular methods include:

• Botnets are networks of infected computers controlled by hackers to perform various malicious tasks, such as sending spam or attacking websites. These computers are used without their owners’ knowledge to spread malware or disrupt services.
• Unpatched devices have not received updates to fix security problems. Attackers can exploit these outdated devices to gain access or cause damage.
• Rogue devices are unauthorized devices that connect to a network. Attackers can use them to access the network, steal data, or harm other connected systems.

10. Next-generation threats

New risks keep appearing every day, making it harder for current cybersecurity defenses to keep up. These new threats include:

• The metaverse creates virtual worlds where people interact and share information, which brings new security risks. These risks include data breaches, identity theft, and scams within these virtual spaces.
• Cloud security threats involve risks from storing data on remote servers. Hackers can exploit weak security settings or vulnerabilities in cloud services to access or disrupt data and services.
• AI/ML (artificial intelligence/machine learning) attacks can manifest in various ways, such as deepfake attacks, malware generated with AI tools, or by introducing malicious data into ML models during their training process.

What are the top cybersecurity threats in 2024?

As we move through 2024, cybersecurity experts are closely watching new threats. Currently, three areas are causing concern — the popularity of AI technology, 5G technology vulnerabilities, and quantum computing.

AI threats

AI is making cyberattacks more advanced and harder to spot. It allows for the creation of sophisticated threats like deepfakes and automated bots that can mimic human behavior and carry out attacks precisely. Recent data shows that 75% of security experts have seen more attacks this year, and 85% believe this rise is due to the misuse of AI. These statistics show the need for better AI security tools to handle these new threats.

5G technology vulnerabilities

The rollout of 5G technology has brought new security risks that attackers are taking advantage of. Research by Nokia shows that most 5G providers had at least one security breach in 2021. Nearly 75% of 5G operators faced up to six cyberattacks or breaches, leading to network downtime, data leaks, financial losses, and damaged reputations. Certain parts of 5G networks and their reliance on virtual network functions are weak spots that attackers can exploit.

Quantum computing

Quantum computing is expected to change technology. Quantum technology helps computers solve complicated math problems much faster than current traditional ones. This technology poses a big threat to today’s encryption methods, which are designed to be hard for regular computers to crack. Quantum computers might break these encryption methods in minutes, which puts sensitive data at risk. As major tech companies like IBM, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon invest in quantum technology, the threat to data security grows.

The NordVPN Threat Center provides more of the latest insights into cybersecurity threats and effective ways to protect yourself.

How to protect your personal information from cyber threats

Protecting your personal information online is necessary to stay safe from cyber threats. Here are some essential tips to help you keep your sensitive data safe:

• Secure your home network. Ensure your home network is protected with a strong password and encryption. Use a secure Wi-Fi protocol (such as WPA3), regularly update your router’s firmware, and consider using a virtual private network (VPN) for more security.
• Use strong, unique passwords. Create complex passwords that are difficult to guess and use different passwords for different accounts. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) and consider using a password manager to keep track of your credentials easily.
• Be aware of what you share. Avoid posting sensitive personal information online, such as your address, phone number, or financial details, to protect yourself from cyber threats.
• Regularly update software. Keep your operating system, applications, and antivirus software up to date to protect against the latest vulnerabilities and threats.
• Be cautious with emails and links. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could be phishing attempts designed to steal your personal information.

The role of threat intelligence in defending against cybersecurity threats

Threat intelligence is essential for defending against cybersecurity threats. By collecting and analyzing data about current and emerging threats, organizations can understand and mitigate potential risks to their information systems. The goal of threat intelligence is to proactively defend against threats by using informed insights to guide security measures and responses and create threat-hunting plans.

Cyber threat monitoring offers real-time insights into security incidents. This way, organizations can quickly detect and respond to suspicious activities to reduce the impact of potential attacks.

Cyber threats and cyberattacks: What’s the difference?

While the terms cyber threats and cyberattacks are often used interchangeably, they refer to different things.

Cyber threats are potential risks that can exploit weaknesses in digital systems. They represent the possibility of a problem occurring and have the potential to cause harm. To prevent these threats from turning into real problems, organizations and individuals should use firewalls and antivirus software and update systems regularly.

Cyberattacks, on the other hand, are actual events. In these attacks, hackers successfully exploit weaknesses to cause harm. They lead to direct damage, including data breaches, system disruptions, and theft of sensitive information. Cyberattacks require swift action to mitigate the damage, restore systems, and implement measures to prevent future attacks.

FAQ

What do all cyber threats have in common?

All cyber threats try to exploit weaknesses in digital systems to gain unauthorized access, disrupt operations, or steal data. They take advantage of flaws in software, hardware, or human behavior. Despite different methods or targets, the goal is always to breach security, compromise sensitive information, and cause harm.

Is antivirus software alone enough to protect against all threats?

No, no software alone is enough to protect against all threats. While it is effective at detecting and removing many types of malware, it cannot defend against other threats like phishing and ransomware attacks, especially the ones relying on social engineering. Antivirus software also doesn’t fix system vulnerabilities or handle network security. For better protection, use additional tools like firewalls and keep software updated.

Are mobile devices vulnerable to cybersecurity threats?

Yes, mobile devices are vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. They can be targeted by malware, phishing attacks, and unauthorized access. Mobile apps can sometimes contain security flaws, and connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi networks can expose devices to additional risks. To protect mobile devices from cyber threats, use strong passwords, keep the operating system and apps updated, and be cautious about the apps and links you interact with.