What a year 2024 has been! Cyber security has once again proven to be one of the fastest-moving and most critical aspects of our digital world. Let’s take a look through the highs, the lows, and the game-changing moments of the year.
It wouldn’t be a year in cybersecurity without a few jaw-dropping attacks, and 2024 did not disappoint—unfortunately for many businesses and individuals.
- The Great Healthcare Hack Early in the year, a massive ransomware attack hit a major NHS supplier, disrupting patient records and appointment scheduling for weeks. Over 15 million patient records were temporarily inaccessible, leading to a backlog of appointments and surgeries. The attackers demanded a ransom of £25 million, though the NHS opted to restore from backups instead of paying.
- AI-Driven Phishing Frenzy AI-generated phishing scams rose by 300% compared to 2023, according to cybersecurity firm Sophos. These scams mimicked CEOs’ voices with near-perfect accuracy and replicated corporate email styles. One high-profile case involved a UK financial firm losing £10 million in a single transaction due to a deepfake CEO’s voice authorising the payment.
- Retail Meltdown on Black Friday Cyber criminals launched a series of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks targeting major UK retailers, affecting over 50% of e-commerce traffic during the busiest shopping weekend. Estimates suggest businesses collectively lost over £1.5 billion in sales, with smaller retailers hit the hardest due to limited resources to mitigate such attacks.
2024 wasn’t just about attacks. There were also incredible leaps forward in cybersecurity technology and strategy.
- Quantum-Resistant Encryption With quantum computing on the horizon, 2024 saw the first widespread rollout of quantum-resistant encryption methods. Banks and government organisations led the charge, with over 40% of global financial institutions adopting these protocols to future-proof their data.
- AI as a Double-Edged Sword While attackers weaponised AI, cyber security experts countered with AI-powered threat detection systems. These systems reduced detection times from an average of 12 hours to under 30 minutes. Google’s AI-based Chronicle Security emerged as a leader, successfully neutralising 85% of flagged threats without human intervention.
- Cyber Security Education Goes Mainstream A survey revealed that 65% of UK workplaces implemented mandatory cyber security training this year, compared to 40% in 2023. Schools also joined the effort, with over 200,000 students completing government-backed cybersecurity courses aimed at creating the next generation of ethical hackers.
Here are the biggest trends we spotted in 2024, ones that will likely shape 2025 and beyond:
- The Rise of Cyber Insurance With attacks becoming inevitable, cyber insurance policies grew by 70% this year. However, experts warn that some businesses are using insurance as a safety net rather than investing in robust security measures, a trend regulators may address in 2025.
- Remote Work Security Challenges As hybrid and remote work remain popular, securing home networks and personal devices has become a top priority. A recent study showed that 75% of remote workers in the UK experienced at least one phishing attempt this year, underscoring the need for robust security practices at home.
- Data Privacy Regulations Tighten The UK’s new Data Protection Bill 2024 introduced stricter rules, including mandatory data breach reporting within 24 hours. Non-compliance fines doubled from previous years, with one social media giant fined £20 million for failing to protect user data.
2024 taught us that cybersecurity isn’t just an IT problem; it’s a people problem. Every email we open, every app we download, and every password we create can either strengthen or weaken our defences.
As we move into 2025, let’s resolve to:
- Use strong, unique passwords (and maybe a password manager!).
- Keep an eye out for phishing attempts.
- Keep our devices updated with the latest security patches.
- Talk about cybersecurity with friends and family—because awareness is half the battle.
Here’s to a safer, smarter 2025.
