Microsoft has released its Digital Defense Report 2024, showing a big rise in cyber attacks. The report highlights the growing risks in the online world. Password attacks are now happening at a rate of 7,000 per second, and the overall picture of web security looks bleak. One of the main issues in the report is the surge in attacks backed by nations. The report claims that some countries are behind many of these attacks. They use hackers to steal data, cause damage, and spread ransomware. These hackers are well-funded and have access to better tools and training. This has made their attacks more advanced, putting many systems at risk.
Tim Burt, who leads Microsoft’s Customer Security and Trust team, says that state-sponsored hackers are becoming more skilled and harder to stop. With more funds and tech knowledge, they are now able to disrupt services, steal key data, and even change events online.
Nation states are becoming more and more aggressive in cyber sectors and have an ever-increasing degree of technical sophistication, reflecting the increased investment in resources and training. These state-sponsored hackers not only steal data, but also circulate ransomware, prepare back doors for future destruction, sabotage operations and carry out influence campaigns.
AI Becomes a New Tool for Hackers
AI is adding a new layer to cybercrime. Hackers are using AI to create fake content, like images, videos, and text, to trick systems and people. AI gives hackers an edge, as they can carry out more attacks with less effort. Burt warns that AI will soon give hackers even more power, creating a major risk for firms and people online.
The report shows just how bad things are becoming. Microsoft says it now blocks over 600 million attacks daily. Fraud cases have spiked by 400% since 2022. Even ransomware attacks have nearly tripled, though fewer of them are working. Every day, Microsoft scans 78 trillion signals from its cloud, devices, and partners to stop attacks on passwords, networks, and systems.
The rise in AI-powered attacks is a key issue. As hackers continue to use AI, the number and type of attacks will likely change. Microsoft’s report shows that while some efforts are helping to block attacks, the tools hackers use are growing faster than the defenses.
Conclusion
Microsoft’s Digital Defense Report 2024 paints a tough picture. Even with its strong security team, the company faces a growing wave of cybercrime. With state-backed hackers and AI in play, the risks are higher than ever, and staying safe online is getting more difficult.
