Cybercrime is changing. Traditional threats like malware and basic phishing attacks are fading, replaced by advanced social engineering and AI-powered deception. The days of simple spam emails with obvious red flags are over. Cybercriminals just need to convince someone to open the door for them. If your company’s security strategy hasn’t adapted, you’re vulnerable.
Social engineering is now the primary cyberattack method
Cybercriminals are skipping traditional hacking methods in favor of something far simpler: human manipulation. Instead of deploying malware, attackers now trick employees into handing over access through voice phishing (vishing), callback phishing, and impersonating IT help desks.
This works because most companies train employees to be helpful. Attackers exploit this instinct. An urgent phone call claiming to be from the IT department, a request to verify credentials, small actions that seem routine but can lead to a major breach. Once inside, attackers move fast, often within hours, compromising systems, extracting data, and covering their tracks.
What to do
Security awareness training isn’t enough. You need proactive defenses:
- Require video authentication with government IDs for password reset requests.
- Restrict off-hours MFA reset approvals, this is a prime time for attacks.
- Monitor for duplicate MFA registrations, one device linked to multiple employees is a red flag.
In short, make your people unhackable.
Generative AI is supercharging cybercrime
AI is upgrading cybercriminals. Attackers now use generative AI to craft phishing emails, deepfake voices, fake LinkedIn profiles, and even malicious code. These AI-powered scams are indistinguishable from real communications, making detection harder than ever.
North Korean threat actors are using AI to create fake hiring schemes that trick businesses into hiring operatives who siphon off money and data. AI-generated deepfake voices have been used in fraud cases where attackers impersonated executives to authorize transactions. The attack surface is growing, and AI is making deception scalable.
What to do
AI attacks require AI defenses:
- Deploy AI-powered threat detection, legacy systems won’t catch these attacks.
- Train employees to verify identity through multiple channels, don’t trust an email or call at face value.
- Monitor LinkedIn and hiring platforms for fake profiles, recruitment scams are an emerging threat.
Nation-state cyber threats from China and North Korea are escalating
China and North Korea have intensified their cyber operations, shifting from espionage to direct financial and corporate attacks.
China’s cyber activity has surged by 150%, with targeted industries, including financial services, media, manufacturing, and engineering, experiencing up to 300% more attacks than before. These attacks are strategic, persistent, and well-funded. Meanwhile, North Korea continues using fraudulent IT hiring schemes to funnel stolen funds into its economy.
What to do
When dealing with nation-state threats, assume you’re already a target.
- Increase monitoring of executive communications, high-profile individuals are priority targets.
- Secure financial and trade data aggressively, these are prime targets for espionage.
- Engage in government threat intelligence sharing, collaborate to stay ahead of state-backed actors.
Attackers are exploiting legitimate credentials instead of malware
Cybersecurity has long focused on blocking malware, but now, most breaches don’t require it. 79% of cyberattacks in 2024 didn’t use malware at all, instead, they relied on stolen credentials and legitimate access methods.
Attackers gain control of valid accounts, blend in with normal activity, and operate without triggering alarms. They use “interactive intrusion” tactics, impersonating IT staff over the phone and guiding employees into making security changes that grant them access.
Once inside, there’s no obvious malware signature, just a user doing something that seems legitimate. This makes detection far more difficult.
What to do
- Enforce strict identity verification, implement passwordless authentication (FIDO2) to minimize credential theft.
- Use behavioral AI monitoring, flag unusual access patterns in real time.
- Limit administrator privileges, restrict what users can do, even if their credentials are stolen.
Forget malware, your real vulnerability is human access. Secure it.
Cybercriminals are exploiting publicly available research
Transparency in cybersecurity is a double-edged sword. While security researchers publish vulnerability disclosures to help companies defend themselves, attackers use the same reports to develop exploits faster.
Proof-of-concept (PoC) exploits, technical blogs, and security white papers are frequently scanned by cybercriminals, allowing them to weaponize vulnerabilities before companies even patch them.
What to do
- Accelerate patch management, if a vulnerability is public, assume it’s already being exploited.
- Limit internal discussions on security flaws, especially in public forums.
- Deploy deception technology, lure attackers into fake environments to detect early reconnaissance.
The cybercriminal economy is growing
Hacking has gone corporate. The cybercriminal ecosystem is now highly specialized, with access brokers selling stolen credentials to ransomware operators. This structured economy means that even low-skill attackers can now execute high-impact breaches.
Access brokers don’t launch attacks, they break into networks and sell that access to the highest bidder. This lowers the barrier for cybercrime and increases attack volume.
What to do
- Monitor underground markets, track if your company’s credentials are being sold.
- Lock down privileged access, the fewer high-level accounts, the lower your risk.
- Use proactive threat intelligence, partner with cybersecurity firms that infiltrate hacker forums.
“Cybercrime has become a business. Stop treating it like one-off incidents.”
Stronger identity security is non-negotiable
The biggest weakness in cybersecurity is identity. Attackers are hacking people. That means identity security is now your most critical defense layer.
CrowdStrike’s 2025 report recommends phishing-resistant MFA (such as FIDO2 authentication) to prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, help desk verification policies must be tightened, attackers frequently target support teams to bypass security measures.
What to do
- Eliminate password-based authentication where possible, passwords are a liability.
- Harden MFA policies, restrict resets, enforce device-based authentication.
- Implement continuous monitoring, track every identity-based action, not just logins.
Final thoughts
Cybersecurity is a business survival issue. The tactics are changing, but the game remains the same. Attackers don’t break in; they get someone to open the door. Generative AI, stolen credentials, and nation-state threats are happening now, at scale.
The companies that stay ahead aren’t just reacting to breaches, they’re building security into their DNA. That means locking down identity, using AI to fight AI, and making security awareness part of company culture.
The reality is simple: If your defenses rely on outdated strategies, you’re already compromised. The future belongs to those who adapt faster than the attackers. Rethink security. Make it a priority. Because in this game, there are only two types of companies, those who are prepared, and those who are next.
