2024: 5 Cybersecurity Must-Knows!

In 2023, cyberattacks surged both in terms of frequency and sophistication. The proliferation of cutting-edge hacking tools and technologies – now more accessible than ever thanks to advances in generative AI – created an environment conducive for cyber threats to flourish, forcing organizations to adopt proactive measures to keep their digital assets secure. Heading into 2024, the attack surface is set to expand even further, with threats likely to grow more and more elusive. Considering the increasing power and accessibility of tools based on artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs), it will be imperative to stay several steps ahead of threat actors and know what tactics to expect in the coming year.

Here are 5 pivotal cybersecurity trends to watch out for in 2024:

1. Custom ChatGPT-like bots: Hackers can utilize OpenAI’s custom GPTs to launch convincing social engineering attacks, masquerading as managers or IT representatives and convincing employees to transfer funds or share sensitive data. Organizations need to prioritize robust security protocols to prevent these attacks.
2. SaaS apps as stealthy attack vectors: In 2024, cybercriminals will continue to exploit SaaS apps and embed malicious payloads into the cloud to take advantage of security gaps. Organizations should expect this attack vector to become a formidable cyber-front and strengthen their security frameworks accordingly.
3. AI-driven automation in cyberattack campaigns: While AI-driven automation can improve productivity, threat actors can use it to identify vulnerabilities in cloud infrastructure and carry out malicious email campaigns efficiently. Businesses need to be aware of this threat and take steps to protect their infrastructure.
4. Deepfakes and multi-modal ML models: Multi-modal machine learning models have enabled attackers to generate convincing audio, images, and videos for deception purposes. Deepfake campaigns have increased significantly, posing serious threats to organizations. Educating staff to recognize and report attempted breaches will be crucial in mitigating this risk.
5. Guarding against adversarial prompts in LLM-powered services: As LLM-powered services become more widespread, organizations need to establish robust protection against malicious prompt injections that can manipulate the outputs or alter processing procedures. Proactive solutions are needed to prevent data breaches and compliance violations.

As AI systems continue to evolve, the threat landscape also evolves. It is crucial for organizations to deploy tools and layered solutions to identify and address emerging cyber threats. By staying one step ahead of digital adversaries, businesses can effectively protect their digital assets in 2024.