Threat actors are typically after two things from your business: data or money. Usually, they’re motivated by both, as data can help them cash in at the expense of your business. In fact, in 2023, cyber attacks are estimated to amount to $8 trillion in total costs.
$100 billion. That's what cyber threats and other types of hacking will drain from businesses worldwide in 2025. New data shows that public cloud breaches now cost over $5 million on average, with attacks surging 154% in just one year.
Whether the demands of overseeing personal and organizational security are in your job description or not, keeping ahead of bad actors and their rapidly evolving hacking techniques is critical for anyone who values personal and organizational security.
Understanding the how behind the different types of hacks will become even more urgent this year. How will your business handle its share of the projected $100 billion cyber security bill?
Following, we'll look at the most notable hacking techniques that defined cyberattacks in 2024 while offering a forward-looking perspective on the trends and tactics we expect to dominate 2025.
Top Hacking Techniques of 2024
Social Engineering
Social engineering continued to lead the cyber threat landscape. 2024 saw advanced techniques that worked to exploit human psychology, manipulating people into revealing sensitive information or granting unauthorized access.
One of the most concerning trends was the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into different types of hacking techniques. AI-driven tools served to create hyper-personalized messages, cloning voices, and developing extremely realistic video deepfakes. These types of hacks were effective and bypassed even the most sophisticated technical defenses by targeting the weakest link: people.
By blurring the line between real and fake, social engineering made it harder than ever to identify a scam before it was too late.
Recent Example of Social Engineering
A standout example of social engineering in 2024 was the large-scale spear-phishing campaigns that targeted high-value government officials and executives at federal agencies. The attack went beyond data theft and relied on well-crafted, personalized emails to breach critical systems, with an end goal of disruption and espionage.
What You Can Do
Teach your organization to avoid sharing private info over email. Challenge employees to think twice before clicking on links of any kind, and help them stay updated by providing ongoing security training.
Password Attacks and Credential Stuffing
In 2024, attackers used various hacking techniques to compromise accounts, among the most popular of which were dictionary attacks — a type of hack that uses pre-made lists of common passwords to guess login details, and brute-force attacks aimed at stealing passwords (automatically testing every possible combination.)
These automated methods allowed malicious actors to attack many accounts quickly by using hacking techniques that allowed them to analyze user behavior, predict password patterns, and evade detection systems with greater efficiency. The speed and success rate of these attacks made it harder for traditional security measures, like CAPTCHA or account lockouts, to keep up.
Recent Example of a Password Attack and Credential Stuffing
One of the year’s most alarming developments was the RockYou2024 leak that involved a hacking technique known as credential stuffing — a tampering method that uses stolen login details from previous breaches. The collection contained over 8 billion passwords, and the leak allowed attackers to exploit reused passwords to access accounts on other platforms.
What You Can Do
Store your company’s passwords in a secure tool. These tools can create long, hard-to-crack passwords and autofill them for employees to save time. Additionally, consider encryption and multi-factor authentication for stronger protection.
Ransomware and Ransom Demands
Think of ransomware like a digital hostage situation; malicious software (aka malware) encrypts a target's data and prevents them from accessing it again until a ransom to unlock it is paid.
This type of hacking evolved from simply stealing data, to completely shutting down operations. The focus shifted to vital systems with an aim to disrupt entire organizations and cause severe operational damage.
Recent Example of Ransomware
In May 2024, Keytronic suffered a ransomware attack that disrupted operations at its Mexico and U.S. sites. The financial impact to the company was approximately $2.3 million in additional expenses and an estimated $15 million in lost revenue during the fourth quarter.
What You Can Do
Threat actors use tricks like fake websites and malware to steal data. Educate your team about ransomware threats such as fraudulent websites and malicious downloads and provide them with clear resources to help them recognize and avoid these traps.
Emerging Threats: What To Expect in 2025
AI-Augmented Cyber Attacks
Looking ahead to 2025, the evolution of hacking techniques signals a demand for proactive strategies in order to stay ahead of threats.
As AI-driven cyberattacks become a daily challenge for organizations worldwide, these different types of hacks will redefine the security landscape and give way for hackers to create even more sophisticated phishing campaigns, adaptive malware, and realistic social engineering schemes that are faster and harder to stop.
What might these campaigns look like in 2025?
Imagine you’ve just received an email from your colleague Jane. The email reads just like her, it uses her personal speaking style, and leverages her recent activity with you. You have no reason to suspect the email isn't from Jane, it’s nearly indistinguishable from the real thing and an example of the frightening power AI brings to cybercrime.
What You Can Do
Think of cyberattacks like a game of chess. While your tools defend, hackers are using AI to outsmart your team. Teach employees how AI-powered scams, like fake emails, work so they can recognize, avoid, and stop these tricks.
Supply Chain and Third-Party Vulnerabilities
Attacks against supply chains and third-party vendors have gained popularity, exposing vulnerabilities in interconnected networks. Currently these hacking techniques focus on targeted vulnerabilities in vendor systems with an end goal of breaking into larger organizations, causing data breaches, financial losses, and reputational harm.
As organizations face increased scrutiny regarding their third-party risk management practices, cyber insurance providers have already started to rethink coverage terms, premiums, and exclusions.
What You Can Do
Ensure vendors keep their software and systems patched against known vulnerabilities. Require strong, regularly updated passwords and multi-factor authentication for all vendor accounts.
Smart Cyber Threats Demand Smarter Defenses
While 2025 invites a new wave of hacking techniques and other cyber threats, the good news is that protecting what you've worked so hard to build starts with a single step. Download our free checklist: Easy Steps to Avoid Cyber Threats, to start building your defenses now.
For customized support in creating a guided security plan, Mitnick Security is ready to help.
