Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated, targeting businesses of all sizes with devastating consequences. From data breaches to ransomware, no organisation is immune. In this blog, we’ll explore the latest cyberthreats.
As we navigate through 2025, the landscape of cyberthreats continues to evolve, presenting new challenges for businesses and individuals alike. Here are six types of cyberattacks that are on the rise this year.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a double-edged sword. While it offers numerous benefits, it also provides cybercriminals with advanced tools to automate hacking techniques, identify vulnerabilities faster, and evade detection. AI-powered phishing emails, for instance, can mimic human interactions more convincingly, making them harder to spot. Cloud environments are attractive targets due to the vast amount of data they hold. Misconfigurations, unauthorised access, and data breaches can result in significant financial losses, legal consequences, and loss of customer trust. The complexity of managing multi-cloud environments further exacerbates these challenges.
With over 30 billion devices connected through the Internet of Things (IoT) by 2025, these smart devices have become prime targets for cyberattacks. Due to their often-weak security measures, hackers can exploit IoT devices to gain sensitive information, override systems, or create botnets for Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. IoT devices often have weak security, making them easy targets. Compromised IoT devices can lead to unauthorised access to sensitive data, disruption of services, and even physical harm in cases where critical infrastructure is involved. The sheer number of connected devices amplifies these risks.
As businesses continue to migrate to cloud computing, the security of cloud systems remains a significant concern. Unauthorised access, data breaches, and misconfigured settings are common issues. The adoption of multi-cloud strategies further complicates security, necessitating robust solutions to protect diverse environments. Cloud environments are attractive targets due to the vast amount of data they hold. Misconfigurations, unauthorised access, and data breaches can result in significant financial losses, legal consequences, and loss of customer trust. The complexity of managing multi-cloud environments further exacerbates these challenges.
Ransomware remains a persistent threat, with attacks expected to occur globally every two seconds by 2025. Cybercriminals are increasingly using double-extortion tactics, where they encrypt data and simultaneously threaten to release sensitive information if the ransom is not paid. This makes ransomware one of the most disruptive forms of cybercrime. Ransomware attacks can cripple businesses by encrypting critical data and demanding ransom for its release. Even if the ransom is paid, there’s no guarantee of data recovery. These attacks can lead to operational downtime, financial losses, and long-term reputational damage.
Additionally, phishing attacks remain one of the most common and effective methods for cybercriminals to gain unauthorised access to systems. The UK government is emphasising the importance of robust phishing-resistant authentication methods and continuous employee training to mitigate these risks.
In LotL attacks, cybercriminals use legitimate tools and processes within an organisation’s network to carry out malicious activities. This approach helps them avoid detection, as they are using trusted software and protocols. These attacks are becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect, posing a significant challenge for cybersecurity teams. LotL attacks use legitimate tools within an organisation’s network, making them difficult to detect. These attacks can lead to data exfiltration, prolonged unauthorised access, and significant damage before they are discovered. The stealthy nature of LotL attacks poses a serious challenge for cybersecurity teams.
In response to the increasing success of cyberattacks, including data breaches, the rise of AI-based attacks, and the growing impact of ransomware, the UK government is intensifying its efforts to establish stringent requirements, enforce compliance, and impose fines. New data protection laws, such as AI-specific guidelines, are being introduced, and existing cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., HiPAA and GDPR standards) are being refined.
The UK is pushing forward with the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which aims to strengthen the country’s cyber defences and protect essential public services. This bill will expand the remit of existing regulations to cover more digital services and supply chains, making them less attractive targets for attackers. It also puts regulators on a stronger footing, enabling them to ensure that essential cyber safety measures are being implemented and to proactively investigate potential vulnerabilities.
Non-compliance risks are set to grow, not only due to potential penalties but also because of supply chain pressures, as business partners demand compliance assurances. Failure to adhere to evolving standards like GDPR, or AI-specific regulations can lead to fines, business restrictions, and damaged partnerships. As global data protection laws continue to expand, companies may face fines and bans for improper data storage or transfer.
By tightening cybersecurity compliance, the UK aims to build resilience against escalating cyberthreats and foster trust within the digital economy.
The rise of these cyberattacks in 2025 highlights the need for continuous vigilance and advanced security measures. Businesses must stay informed about emerging threats and invest in robust cybersecurity strategies to protect their assets and data. By understanding and preparing for these evolving threats, organisations can better defend themselves against the ever-changing landscape of cybercrime.
Stay safe and proactive in your cybersecurity efforts! If you need assistance in strengthening your defences, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
And in the meanwhile, you can download our free disaster recovery step-by-step guide by clicking below.
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Agnes Molnar
Agnes is Syn-Star’s expert content writer, she has Master’s degree in English Literature that provides a strong foundation in writing and critical thinking of everything she does.
Qualifications: Masters in English Literature
In-house training: HubSpot SEO, WordPress Training.
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Agnes Molnar
Agnes is Syn-Star’s expert content writer, she has Master’s degree in English Literature that provides a strong foundation in writing and critical thinking of everything she does.
Qualifications: Masters in English Literature
In-house training: HubSpot SEO, WordPress Training.
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