5 Cybersecurity Predictions for 2025

Information technology (IT) has changed dramatically over the past few years, with advances in virtually every aspect of the industry. Cybersecurity, specifically, has evolved from its previous form.

Our list of cybersecurity predictions for the coming year can help you understand what you might face in 2025.

1. The Evolution of Ransomware

First on our cybersecurity 2025 forecast is the increasing frequency of ransomware attacks. These attacks are becoming more sophisticated and more common, demonstrated by an 81% year-over-year increase from 2023 to 2024.

Ransomware locks users out of individual computers — or even entire networks — until the ransom is paid. Even then, there’s no guarantee you’ll recover everything hit by the attack. 

Encryption-only ransomware is becoming significantly less common. Attackers primarily use double extortion tactics to manipulate targets into paying the ransom. Double extortion is an advanced tactic where attackers combine data encryption with data theft to increase pressure on victims to pay the ransom. 

2. Internet of Things Expansion

Another of the most important 2025 cybersecurity threats is the rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT refers to a network of internet-connected devices other than smartphones, tablets and computers, such as:

• Smartwatches.
• Wearable fitness trackers.
• Smart home appliances.
• Voice assistants like Amazon Echo and Google Home.
• Car infotainment systems.
• Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags.

Projections show that by 2030, the number of IoT devices in use will exceed 32 billion worldwide. 

The more devices connected to your network, the larger your attack surface becomes. Cybercriminals can take advantage of all the new endpoints your expansion has opened to enter your system unnoticed.

3. Artificial Intelligence Empowering Cybercriminals

The widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) was a significant turning point in 2023 and 2024. While it helped companies boost their efficiency, it also gave malicious actors new opportunities.

Some examples include:

• Optimized attacks: Generative AI and machine learning (ML) technologies can help even inexperienced attackers create more sophisticated malware, eliminate the typical indicators from a phishing email or scale their attacks to affect more targets.
• Data poisoning: A hacker can inject false, biased or corrupted data into an AI’s training datasets, causing the AI to produce inaccurate results and reduce performance.
• Automated malware: While AI programs like ChatGPT and Google Gemini have some protections in place to discourage malicious coding, determined hackers can bypass them and use the program to automatically produce malicious code.
• Model stealing: Attackers can replicate an AI model by querying it and observing outputs — effectively stealing the model without direct access to the original code or training data.
• Bias exploitation: AI models may inadvertently acquire biases from training data, and attackers can exploit them to manipulate outcomes in their favor.
• AI in deepfakes: Artificial intelligence can create realistic fake videos or audio recordings that can be used to impersonate individuals or spread misinformation.
• Autonomous decision-making risks: Attackers could target or manipulate AI systems that make autonomous decisions, especially regarding critical infrastructure or defense. 

4. Public Cloud Growth

While most businesses have fully resumed in-person operations, many still give remote-capable employees the option to work remotely. 

This rapid expansion of the remote workforce has led to organizations relying on resources and services from public cloud data centers, such as collaborative software platforms and infrastructure components. 

While cloud service providers typically put many security measures in place to protect data from attackers, some risks are difficult to address:

• Misconfigured cloud settings: Failing to properly configure your cloud settings to comply with industry regulations can accidentally create exploitable vulnerabilities.
• Insider threats: Whether a remote worker intentionally leaks data or accidentally leaves their account open for attackers, cybercriminals can access the public cloud more easily than private clouds or on-premises networks. 
• Sniffing or snooping: Migrating data to the cloud via unsecured network connections can give attackers an opening to hijack it in transit.
• Insecure APIs: Public cloud services are often accessed via application programming interfaces (APIs). If these APIs are not properly secured, attackers can exploit them and gain unauthorized access. 
• Denial of service (DoS) attacks: Attackers can target cloud services, overwhelming resources and making services unavailable. 

5. Extended Reality Vulnerabilities

While extended reality (XR) technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), are becoming more popular in personal and professional applications, they still lack many of the cybersecurity protections of the other tools in your IT stack. 

Some of the potential risks this gap creates include:

• Social engineering: Many XR programs come from third-party developers, which increases the risk of unreliable content manipulating your users to perform specific actions. Vetting your software vendors is key. 
• Ransomware: Hackers could plant malicious code or links into a VR or AR program to lure unsuspecting users into activating a computer virus. 
• Lack of privacy: VR headsets and AR technologies collect user biometric data, such as retina scans, eye movements and typical behavior patterns. Hackers can use this data to recreate user actions and gain unauthorized access to your system.
• Man-in-the-middle attack: XR applications often rely on real-time data transmission between devices and servers. Attackers could intercept this data, altering its content or injecting malicious data. 

Developing Solutions for the Future of Cybersecurity

As technology advances, the IT market gains opportunities to enhance security protections against external and internal threats. Here are promising developments in the future of cybersecurity.

Immersive Cybersecurity Training

A nonmalicious human element is a key factor in 68% of all data breaches, according to Verizon’s most recent Data Breach Investigations Report. An engaging security awareness training program is one of the most effective ways to mitigate human risk.

VR opens new, immersive security training opportunities for employees in various industries. By gamifying learning in an engaging virtual world, organizations can motivate employees to continue improving. 

Virtualized Security Operations Centers

Although security operations centers (SOCs) are a must for any cybersecurity provider, physical centers are increasingly expensive to build and maintain. XR technologies could present a cost-effective solution.

VR and AR can enable companies to create fully virtual, interactive SOCs using infinite office platforms, which could allow security professionals to work remotely while providing the same level of service. 

Virtualization could also enable SOC employees to automate time-consuming and tedious tasks, streamlining workflows and giving them the ability to focus on more complex projects.

AI-Enhanced Tools

AI-powered cybersecurity tools can help your organization enhance its security posture with capabilities like:

• Predictive analytics: AI technologies enable your organization to adopt a more proactive stance by predicting potential cybersecurity risks and their outcomes.
• Advanced threat detection: AI algorithms can also identify abnormal behavior faster than a human cybersecurity professional, enabling you to stay on top of insider threats and compromised accounts.
• ML capabilities: ML enables a software program to learn from previous cycles, creating a security system that can continuously update its knowledge of threats and adapt appropriate responses.

Why Trust Us?

Knowledge is power — especially in the cybersecurity and IT industries. At Morefield, our expert team is passionate about providing our readers with the information they need to make decisions about their security requirements. 

Our decades of experience in the technology field have given us valuable insight into the most common risks small to medium-sized businesses across various industries face daily. 

We strive to thoroughly understand how cybersecurity risks affect businesses so that we can lead the industry in creating the most effective solutions. Providing high-quality resources like this blog post is a key component of that mission.

Prepare for 2025 With Cybersecurity Services From Morefield

When it comes to preparing for the future of cybersecurity, proactivity is critical. Many companies find that their best chance of avoiding serious consequences is by obtaining outside help. 

Working with a managed cybersecurity company can make the process easier. At Morefield, we offer various scalable security solutions, including but not limited to:

• Vulnerability assessments.
• vCISO services.
• Next-generation firewalls.
• Security awareness training.
• Mobile device management.

Whatever your organization needs, we can help you find the best solution to meet those requirements.

Connect with us online for more information about our cybersecurity solutions and services. An expert will answer any questions you may have.

Morefield’s newest partner in cybersecurity, Arctic Wolf, has launched their 2024 Security Operations Report, a comprehensive analysis that includes data from more than 253 trillion observations and 7,200 security investigations from over 6,000 of their customers.

This report illustrates the evolving threat landscape, while also providing guidance to help organizations and other cyber defenders benefit from the same insights we leverage to protect our customers every day. 

Phishing has always been a threat. Now, with AI, it’s more dangerous than ever. Phishing 2.0 is here. It’s smarter, more convincing, and harder to detect. Understanding this new threat is crucial. 

A recent study found a 60% increase in AI-driven phishing attacks. This is a wake-up call that phishing is only getting worse. Here’s how AI is amplifying phishing and what you can do to protect yourself.

The Evolution of Phishing

Phishing began simply. Attackers sent out mass emails. They hoped someone would take the bait. The emails were often crude, using poor grammar and obvious lies were common. Many people could spot them easily.

But things have changed. Attackers now use AI to improve their tactics. AI helps them craft convincing messages. It also helps them target specific individuals. This makes phishing more effective.

How AI Enhances Phishing

Creating Realistic Messages

AI can analyze huge amounts of data. It studies how people write and speak. This helps it create realistic phishing messages. These messages sound like they come from a real person. They mimic the tone and style of legitimate communications. This makes them harder to spot.

Personalized Attacks

AI can gather information from social media and other sources. It uses this information to create personalized messages. These messages mention details about your life. They might reference your job, hobbies, or recent activities. This personalization increases the chances that you’ll believe the message is real.

Spear Phishing

Spear phishing targets specific individuals or organizations. It’s more sophisticated than regular phishing. AI makes spear phishing even more dangerous. It helps attackers research their targets in depth. They can craft highly tailored messages. These messages are hard to distinguish from legitimate ones.

Automated Phishing

AI automates many aspects of phishing. It can send out thousands of phishing messages quickly. It can also adapt messages based on responses. If someone clicks a link but doesn’t enter information, AI can send a follow-up email. This persistence increases the likelihood of success.

Deepfake Technology

Deepfakes use AI to create realistic fake videos and audio. Attackers can use deepfakes in phishing attacks. For example, they might create a video of a CEO asking for sensitive information. This adds a new layer of deception. It makes phishing even more convincing.

The Impact of AI-Enhanced Phishing

Increased Success Rates

AI makes phishing more effective. More people fall for these sophisticated attacks. This leads to more data breaches. Companies lose money. Individuals face identity theft and other issues.

Harder to Detect

Traditional phishing detection methods struggle against AI-enhanced attacks. Spam filters may not catch them. Employees may not recognize them as threats. This makes it easier for attackers to succeed.

Greater Damage

AI-enhanced phishing can cause more damage. Personalized attacks can lead to significant data breaches. Attackers can gain access to sensitive information. They can also disrupt operations. The consequences can be severe.

How to Protect Yourself

Be Skeptical

Always be skeptical of unsolicited messages. Even if they appear to come from a trusted source. Verify the sender’s identity. Don’t click on links or download attachments from unknown sources.

Check for Red Flags

Look for red flags in emails. These might include generic greetings, urgent language, or requests for sensitive information. Be cautious if the email seems too good to be true.

Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA adds an extra layer of security. Even if an attacker gets your password, they’ll need another form of verification. This makes it harder for them to access your accounts.

Educate Yourself and Others

Education is key. Learn about phishing tactics. Stay informed about the latest threats. Share this knowledge with others. Training can help people recognize and avoid phishing attacks.

Verify Requests for Sensitive Information

Never provide sensitive information via email. If you receive a request, verify it through a separate communication channel. Contact the person directly using a known phone number or email address.

Use Advanced Security Tools

Invest in advanced security tools. Anti-phishing software can help detect and block phishing attempts. Email filters can screen out suspicious messages. Keep your security software up to date.

Report Phishing Attempts

Report phishing attempts to your IT team or email provider. This helps them improve their security measures. It also helps protect others from similar attacks.

Enable Email Authentication Protocols

Email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC help protect against email spoofing. Ensure these protocols are enabled for your domain. This adds an extra layer of security to your emails.

Regular Security Audits

Conduct regular cybersecurity audits. This helps identify vulnerabilities in your systems. Addressing these vulnerabilities can prevent phishing attacks.

Need Help with Safeguards Against Phishing 2.0?

Phishing 2.0 is a serious threat. AI amplifies the danger, making attacks more convincing and harder to detect. Have you had an email security review lately? Maybe it’s time.

Contact Morefield today to schedule a chat about phishing safety.

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Featured Image Credit

This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

The rise of remote work has redefined the modern workplace. Gone are the days of rigid office schedules and commutes. But with this flexibility comes a new set of challenges – cybersecurity threats. Remote work environments often introduce vulnerabilities to your organization’s data and systems. 

73% of executives believe that remote work increases security risk.

But this doesn’t mean you can’t mitigate that risk. Below, we’ll equip you with essential security practices for remote teams. You’ll learn how to keep company data safe and secure, no matter your location.

1. Securing Home Networks

Strong Wi-Fi Encryption

Ensure that your Wi-Fi is encrypted with the latest security protocols, such as WPA3. This is a foundational step in securing a home network. This prevents unauthorized users from accessing your network and intercepting data.

Changing Default Router Settings

Many routers come with default usernames and passwords. These are well-known to cyber criminals. Change these to unique, strong credentials. This helps prevent unauthorized access to your network.

Regular Firmware Updates

Routers, like any other digital device, need updates to patch security vulnerabilities. Make sure to check for and install firmware updates from the manufacturer. This helps to keep your router secure.

2. Use Strong, Unique Passwords

Password Managers

Remote workers use several accounts and services to access their work. This means managing passwords can be a daunting task. Password managers can generate, store, and autofill complex passwords. This helps ensure that each account has a unique and strong password.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Installing MFA adds an extra layer of security. Even if a hacker compromises a password, MFA requires a second form of verification. This is usually a text message code or app authentication. This second step makes it much harder for attackers to breach accounts.

3. Protecting Devices

Antivirus/Anti-Malware Software

Ensure that all devices used for work purposes have up-to-date anti-malware software installed. These tools can detect and neutralize threats before they cause significant damage.

Regular Software Updates

Outdated software can have vulnerabilities that are exploited by cybercriminals. To stay protected against the latest threats, enable automatic updates for your:

• Operating system
• Applications
• Security software

Encrypted Storage

Use encrypted storage for sensitive data. This ensures that even if a device is lost or stolen, the data remains inaccessible to hackers. You can use both built-in options and third-party solutions.

4. Secure Communication Channels

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

A VPN encrypts your internet traffic. This makes it difficult for attackers to intercept and access your data. Using a reputable VPN service is crucial. Especially when accessing company resources over public or unsecured networks.

Encrypted Messaging and Email

Use encrypted communication tools. These protect the content of your messages and emails. When choosing messaging and email services, ask about encryption. This can ensure that your communications remain private and secure.

5. Safe Browsing Practices

Browser Security

Ensure that your web browser is up-to-date and configured for security. This includes:

• Enabling features such as pop-up blockers
• Disabling third-party cookies
• Using secure (HTTPS) connections whenever possible

Avoiding Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are a common threat to remote workers. Be vigilant about unsolicited emails or messages asking for sensitive information. Verify the sender’s identity before clicking on links or downloading attachments. Report suspicious communications to your IT department. This helps others on your team avoid the same emails.

Use of Ad Blockers

Ad blockers can prevent malicious ads from displaying on your browser. These often contain malware or phishing links. This adds an extra layer of security while browsing the web.

6. Educating and Training

Regular Security Training

Continuous education on the latest security practices and threats is essential. This includes phishing simulations and best practices for device and data security. Teams should also be aware of any new security protocols.

Incident Response Plan

Put a clear incident response plan in place. This ensures that all employees know what steps to take in the event of a security breach. This should include:

• Reporting procedures
• Mitigation steps
• Contact information for the IT support team

7. Personal Responsibility and Vigilance

Personal Device Hygiene

Employees should maintain good digital hygiene on their personal devices. This includes regular backups and secure configurations. They should also separate personal and professional activities where possible.

Being Aware of Social Engineering

Social engineering attacks exploit emotions to gain access to systems and data. Being aware of common tactics, such as pretexting and baiting. Maintaining a healthy skepticism can prevent falling victim to these attacks.

Need Help Improving Remote Work Cybersecurity?

The transition to remote work has brought about significant changes. You need to evolve how you approach digital security. As cyber threats continue to grow, so too must security practices. 

Do you need some help? Our experts can help ensure that you are well-equipped to handle remote work securely.

Contact us today to schedule a chat about your cybersecurity.

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Featured Image Credit

This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.