Cybersecurity: the 3 key trends of the third quarter of 2024

1. The escalation in the number of attacks

Attacks are gathering pace, frighteningly so. If we compare the third quarter of 2024 with the same quarter in 2023, the number of attacks against organisations has grown more than 75%. The figure is even up 15% on the previous quarter.

The figures are even more striking for Web DDoS attacks, which rose by 85% between the first and second quarters of 2024, with a particularly strong focus on the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa).

The use of automation tools by cyber-attackers appears to be the main driver of this alarming growth.

2. Cybersecurity as a tool of influence

Cyber-attacks have become a mean of influencing public opinion and undermining democratic processes.

Several institutional websites (municipalities, CCB, RTBF, Sabam, etc.) suffered DDoS attacks in the days leading up to and during the weekend of the October elections, with the aim of influencing or intimidating citizens.

As well as the economic impact that cyber-attacks cause (plant shutdowns, ransom payments, loss of customers, damaged reputation, etc.), they are also used unscrupulously to ‘influence’ opinion.

Past experience of elections in the United States has shown that these actions can even influence the outcome of an election, raising crucial questions about democratic integrity.

3. The healthcare sector under pressure

Attacks are spiralling in the healthcare sector worldwide, and Belgium is no exception, with an 81% increase in the third quarter of 2024 compared with the previous year. Healthcare infrastructures, which are already under budgetary strain, are being put to the test by these attacks, which directly threaten the continuity of care.

What's more, 13% of all ransomware attacks target the healthcare sector, exacerbating the situation for hospitals and clinics.

In conclusion

These trends point to the major challenges lying ahead for the coming months:

• Automation and escalation of cyber-attacks: Cybercriminals are exploiting the possibilities of automation to increase the frequency of attacks, building an ever-expanding digital ‘army’. Even if the success rate remains unchanged, this kind of growth will inevitably trigger a large increase in the number of incidents.

• Targeting of vulnerable sectors: Cybercriminals make the most vulnerable sectors their priority target, particularly those in financial difficulty or lagging behind technologically, which makes them even more vulnerable.

• Spreading fear and influence: Cyber-attacks are now being used to influence citizens' decisions, by generating a climate of fear and uncertainty.

MCG, your partner in cyber intelligence

At MCG, we maintain a continuous technological watch to advise our customers, strengthen their resilience in the face of cyber threats and support them in their growth and development.