In 2024, the cybersecurity landscape witnessed several major incidents that reshaped digital security perspectives. Here are the most impactful events:

Major Infrastructure Attacks:
– Internet Archive suffered a dual attack, exposing 33 million users’ data
– CrowdStrike’s faulty update crashed 8.5 million Windows devices
– UnitedHealth’s Change Healthcare ransomware attack affected over 100 million people
– Multiple telecommunications providers targeted by Chinese state-sponsored group “Salt Typhoon”

Corporate Security Breaches:
– Microsoft’s corporate email system breached by Russian hackers
– National Public Data leak exposed 2.7 billion records including SSNs
– Snowflake data theft impacted major companies including AT&T and TicketMaster
– CDK Global ransomware attack disrupted car dealership operations nationwide

Regulatory and Policy Changes:
– Kaspersky software banned in US, replaced with UltraAV
– Increased scrutiny of edge networking devices, especially Chinese-made products
– New concerns over Windows 11 Recall feature’s privacy implications

Emerging Threats:
– Rise of information-stealing malware campaigns
– North Korean IT workers infiltrating US job markets
– LockBit ransomware operation disrupted but later returned
– Widespread attacks on edge networking devices from various manufacturers

The year highlighted the growing sophistication of cyber threats, the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, and the increasing need for robust cybersecurity measures across all sectors.