AI embedded attacks on data will increase in 2024 says Veritas
In 2024 , cybercriminals will embrace AI initiating the era of autonomous ransomware attacks and will commence with robocall-like automation , AI-driven target identification , breach execution , victim extortion , ransom collection , with minimal human interaction says Johnny Karam at Veritas Technologies .
With a heightened emphasis on investment in talent and technology , UAE businesses are expressing confidence in their ability to maintain security . However , over half , 57 % still perceive themselves as at risk amid growing data security threats . In a world filled with escalating external threats and risks , vigilance and strategic investments are crucial for ensuring a resilient future .
With that , here are some of the key regional trends we foresee in the year ahead .
Autonomous ransomware attacks
In the past two years , 73 % of UAE organisations surveyed fell victim to successful ransomware attacks where hackers breached their systems . Cyberattacks will only continue to rise in frequency and sophistication as threat actors continue to exploit advances in AI . Already , tools like WormGPT make it easy for attackers to improve their social engineering with AI-generated phishing emails that are more convincing than those we ’ ve previously become wise to .
In 2024 , cybercriminals will fully embrace AI , initiating the era of autonomous ransomware attacks . These attacks will commence with robocall-like automation and progress to AI-driven target identification , breach execution , victim extortion , and ransom collection , all achieved with remarkable efficiency and minimal human interaction .
Data corruption attacks
Data protection budgets in the UAE have increased by a third over the last 12 months , and the average UAE company also added around 15 staff members to its data protection and security teams . As organisations become better prepared to recover from ransomware attacks without paying ransoms , cybercriminals will be forced to continue evolving .
In 2024 , we expect hackers to turn to targeted cell-level data corruption attacks , code secretly implanted deep within a victim ’ s database that lies in wait to covertly alter or corrupt specific but undisclosed data if the target refuses to pay a ransom .
Johnny Karam , MD and VP of International Emerging Region , Veritas
The real danger is that victims will not know what data , if any , has been altered or corrupted until after the repercussions set in , effectively rendering all their data untrustworthy . The only solution is maintaining secure , verified copies of data that organisations are 100 % certain are uncorrupted and can be rapidly restored .
Autonomous data protection
According to research , more than threequarters , 77 % of UAE organisations are turning to AI to boost their cyber resiliency . Given AI ’ s dual nature as a force for both good and bad , the question going forward will be whether organisations ’ AI-powered protection can evolve faster than hackers ’ AI-powered attacks .
In 2024 , a significant aspect of this evolution will be the emergence of AI-driven autonomous adaptive data protection . AI tools will be able to continuously monitor
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