Checkpoint Cybersecurity Report 2024

Keypoints

• Typical cybersecurity reports are structured into sections such as an introduction, a timeline of notable cyber events, trend analysis, global vulnerability assessments, incident response perspectives, CISO predictions, and malware family descriptions, providing a comprehensive overview of the year’s threat landscape.
• These reports often include key statistics like the increased frequency of attacks on IoT devices (41% weekly attack rise), major data breaches involving organizations like JD Sports and Nickelodeon, and the proliferation of supply chain attacks such as the 3CXDesktopApp compromise.
• Major trends identified are the surge in ransomware zero-days and mega attacks, the growing threat posed by edge devices and IoT vulnerabilities, and the exploitation of AI tools by cybercriminals to craft more convincing phishing, malware, and deepfake campaigns.
• Significant findings include the resurgence of the Qakbot malware, the expansion of the ESXiArgs ransomware campaign, and Chinese state-sponsored cyber espionage targeting critical infrastructure and diplomatic entities.
• Recurring themes include the adaptation of threat actors to bypass AI restrictions, increased use of supply chain vulnerabilities, and the shift to extortion-based tactics by groups like BianLian and LockBit, emphasizing the importance of layered security defenses.
• Overall, these reports underscore the importance of AI-enabled detection, proactive vulnerability management, and international cooperation against complex, state-sponsored, and criminal threat groups.