What are the emerging and new types of cyber attack?

One of the new types of cyber attack gaining traction is Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS). RaaS allows cyber criminals with minimal technical expertise to “rent” ransomware from experienced threat actors. This is a concerning threat because it makes launching attacks accessible to more people. For organisations like yours, this means more frequent and varied ransomware attempts, targeting sensitive data.

Another new cyber threat is deepfake phishing, where artificial intelligence (AI) is used to create audio or video impersonations of executives, convincing employees to transfer funds or share sensitive information. While traditional phishing attempts usually rely on emails, deepfake phishing takes it to a whole other level.

As well as deepfake phishing, other AI-powered attacks are also on the rise. Cyber criminals are using machine learning to automate and make their attacks more efficient. With AI, they can detect weaknesses in systems faster, adapt to defensive measures in real time, and create more convincing social engineering tactics.

Additionally, while these aren’t new, zero-day exploits remain one of the most damaging types of cyber attacks. These attacks take advantage of undiscovered vulnerabilities in software or hardware before developers can patch them. Since zero-day exploits are nearly impossible to predict, they can severely damage networks without warning.

What can be done?

As these cyber attacks become more frequent, organisations must rethink their security strategies, focusing on proactive defence strategies. One key approach is adopting zero-trust architecture, where no user or device is trusted by default, and continuous verification is required. Real-time monitoring and AI-powered threat detection can also identify suspicious activities before they escalate, offering a crucial window for response.

Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing help organisations find and fix weaknesses before attackers exploit them. On top of this, ongoing employee awareness and training is essential, as many breaches result from human error. Teaching employees to recognise phishing attempts and adopt stronger security practices strengthens an organisation’s first line of defence.

Where is cyber security headed?

Part of being proactive over reactive with your cyber security strategy is understanding potential threats in the future. Looking forward, AI will play a bigger role in both cyber attacks and defences. Attackers will use AI to automate threats, while defenders will rely on it to detect and respond to attacks faster.

Emerging technologies like quantum encryption could make it nearly impossible to crack encrypted data. Though still developing, it’s a solution worth keeping an eye on.

Other innovations, like behavioural biometrics—identifying users by their typing or movement patterns—will add extra layers of security, making it harder for attackers to misuse stolen credentials.

Finally, self-learning security systems that adapt in real time will be crucial as cyber threats change. As AI-driven attacks grow, organisations must stay proactive by investing in these technologies to defend against future risks.

Talk to us

We’ve been exploring the ins and outs of cyber security throughout this month. To talk to our specialists about anything security related, get in touch below.