Cyberattacks target critical infrastructures in Q2 2024

LAHORE: Kaspersky’s Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) has revealed a significant increase in cyberespionage attacks during the second quarter of 2024.

Government, military, telecommunications, and judicial entities worldwide were prime targets for these sophisticated cyberattacks.While some cybercriminals continued their established patterns, others adopted new tactics and expanded their operations. A notable example is the compromise of XZ, a widely used open-source compression tool, through social engineering.

Hacktivist groups remained active throughout the quarter, although not all attacks were directly linked to ongoing conflicts.The geographic spread of these cyberattacks was global, with no specific region experiencing a higher concentration of threats. Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa were all affected.

“APTs [advanced persistent threats] are constantly evolving, refining their tactics, and broadening their reach, making them a persistent challenge in the cyber realm.To counter these evolving threats, it’s vital for the cybersecurity community to collaborate and share information across borders. Through collective vigilance and open communication, we can stay ahead and protect our digital environment,” says David Emm, principal security researcher at Kaspersky’s GReAT.