As 2023 draws to a close, those invested in cybersecurity can’t help but look ahead to the threat landscape of the New Year. While many cybercriminals are turning their attention away from consumers to target organizations that can boast larger payloads, there certainly are more than a few threats that home users need to be aware of — and capable of defending against — in 2024. Some of those anticipated threats include:
AI-powered Cyberattacks
For years, cybersecurity professionals have been speaking about the likelihood of cybercriminals utilizing AI to develop more sophisticated attacks, and now their warnings are coming to fruition. Generative AI is astonishingly powerful, and scammers of all types are beginning to utilize available AI platforms like ChatGPT and Dall-E to make their attacks more difficult to avoid. For example, generative AI can be used to generate fraudulent advertisements that consumers cannot distinguish from legitimate ads, resulting in an increase in malware downloads. Worse, cybercriminals can use generative AI to write the code for sophisticated malware that can get around existing antivirus programs, rendering cybersecurity solutions moot.
Fortunately, because cybersecurity experts have anticipated the use of AI in cyberattacks, there are already ways for consumers to stay safe. Many cybersecurity leaders offer products that themselves use AI to keep their devices and networks safe in the face of new threats. Consumers might explore options to protect themselves from AI-powered cyberattacks on trendmicro.com.
Attacks Using Automated Transfer Systems
Today, nearly half of all Americans primarily interact with their banks through mobile banking apps, which indeed make accessing accounts, transferring money, paying bills and the like much more convenient. Unfortunately, mobile banking is not the most secure system at present, and cybersecurity professionals anticipate a rise in mobile banking–related crime in the coming year. Specifically, foreign hacking groups have developed mobile malware that automatically transfers a portion of a user’s savings out of their accounts whenever they log into their banking app. Because these exploits offer the opportunity for quick, easy cash, automated transfer systems are likely to rise in popularity in 2024.
The best way to avoid succumbing to an automated transfer system attack is to avoid mobile banking apps — but that isn’t a realistic solution for everyone. Instead, all mobile users should have sophisticated mobile cybersecurity and take aggressive steps to avoid contracting any type of malware on their mobile devices.
Selective Ransomware Deployment
In the past, cybercriminals have employed a spray-and-pray approach to malware deployment, in which they release as much malware as possible and hope that some of it generates an income. While some of the least sophisticated cybercriminals still utilize this method, many attackers are striving to be more precise with their malware deployment, carefully selecting targets that are more likely to succumb to their scams. This is particularly true with ransomware attackers, who need targets that are desperate for the return of their data, that have large financial accounts to pay large ransoms and that have weak enough cybersecurity that ransomware can be easily installed on their network.
The more consumers can do to make themselves less attractive as attack targets, the better. In general, this means reducing the amount of information available about an individual online, certainly through social media. Fortunately, as more cybercriminals move toward being selective, most choose to target corporations with their attacks.
Attacks on Misconfigured Devices
So many devices are connected to the internet to improve their convenience for consumers — but if those devices are not carefully configured into a user’s home network, they may pose a serious threat to the security of that user’s other devices and data. In many cases, misconfigured devices may be publicly accessible, granting savvy hackers access to the device and to any other devices connected to it. Some of the more famous examples of this involve baby monitors or home security cameras, but it can also occur with routers, kitchen appliances, robot vacuums and more.
Consumers who are not particularly tech savvy might take advantage of professional tech services to ensure that their home networks and all connected devices are properly configured. They should also work to change login credentials on all connected devices from the default settings. Finally, all devices need to receive regular updates to close vulnerabilities that might affect their configuration and create vulnerabilities through which attackers can move.
Consumers are still definitely at risk of cyberattack in 2024. Fortunately, many of the ways of staying safe from attack remain the same as always: utilize cybersecurity solutions, avoid risky online behaviors and always keep strong passwords.
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