Looking back at 2024, one thing is clear: cybersecurity threats have continued to evolve, pushing organizations worldwide to adapt rapidly. This year witnessed some of the most alarming and sophisticated breaches to date, targeting everything from critical infrastructure to global tech platforms. These attacks not only disrupted operations but also exposed vulnerabilities in cloud security, supply chains, and public data management.
At the top of the list are the hacker groups Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon, which targeted U S critical infrastructure. These groups exploited vulnerabilities in devices such as routers and firewalls by using weak or default credentials. They avoided detection by using administrative tools instead of malware. These breaches were discovered through collaboration between cybersecurity firms and government agencies, which led to authorities disrupting the groups’ access and strengthening defenses.
The second major cybersecurity incident of 2024 highlighted the vulnerabilities in healthcare technology. In February, Change Healthcare suffered a significant ransomware attack by the ALPHV/BlackCat group. The attackers exploited compromised credentials on a Citrix remote access portal that lacked multi-factor authentication (MFA). Once inside, they extracted data and deployed ransomware, encrypting critical files and causing widespread service disruptions across the US. The breach was discovered when billing system failures prompted the company to isolate the affected systems and revert to manual processes. Despite paying a USD 22 million ransom, the stolen data was not recovered.
Next, throughout 2024, North Korean hackers executed one of the largest cryptocurrency heists in history, stealing a total of USD 1.34 billion across 47 cyberattacks—representing more than 60% of global crypto thefts for the year. Using tactics like social engineering and malware, they infiltrated cryptocurrency platforms and exchanges, including Japan’s DMM Bitcoin Exchange, resulting in losses exceeding USD 300 million. These thefts were uncovered through blockchain analysis and international law enforcement collaboration. While global cooperation, sanctions, and enhanced countermeasures have been introduced, these attacks underscore the urgent need for robust individual security protocols.
In July Microsoft experienced a global outage that affected Azure and Outlook services due to a misconfigured network device in the Central US region This misconfiguration led to cascading failures disrupting services such as Microsoft 365 Teams and OneDrive The issue was identified through user reports and Microsoft’s internal monitoring systems
Lastly, in March, the Python Package Index (PyPi) suspended new project creation and user registrations in response to a malware upload campaign. Malicious packages containing JarkaStealer malware were uploaded, disguised as legitimate packages but designed to steal sensitive information, including credentials, authentication tokens, and financial data from developers. Automated scans and developer reports flagged suspicious activity, leading to security researchers reverse-engineering the malware and removing the malicious packages.
Each of these attacks resulted in millions of dollars in costs and incalculable damage to the affected organizations and individuals. However, constant security scans and vigilance exposed these threats, and it was ultimately a team of dedicated cybersecurity professionals who plugged the gaps and thwarted the attacks.
