21 Feb Nearly half of business users targeted by email attacks in H2 2024 according to Acronis

Acronis released its biannual report titled, “Acronis Cyberthreats Report, H2 2024: The rise of AI-driven threats” which revealed a significant rise in email cyberattacks.

It found that a there was a 197 per cent increase detected in H2 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, with a 21 per cent rise in attacks per organisation.

From July to December 2024, nearly 50 per fcent of users were targeted by email-based attacks at least once, and nearly a third of all emails received in H2 2024 were spam, with 1.4 per cent containing malware or phishing links.

Email attacks on managed service providers (MSPs) also increased.

However, phishing was the preferred attack vector for attackers to breach MSP networks, with 33 per cent experiencing email phishing campaigns.

This was closely followed by exploits targeting vulnerabilities in Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and other remote access tools.

The UAE was among the most targeted by malware attacks in December 2024. The Emirates also experienced the highest percentage of blocked malicious URLs in December, followed by Brazil and Singapore.

“The cyberthreats report from the Acronis Threat Research Unit serves as our biannual pulse on the cybersecurity landscape, offering critical insights into the latest attack trends and vulnerabilities,” said Gerald Beuchelt, CISO at Acronis. “This release highlights the alarming rise of AI-generated attacks and the increasing sophistication of ransomware campaigns. By analyzing trends from the first half of 2024 and providing actionable recommendations, the report empowers organizations, MSPs, and the cybersecurity industry to proactively strengthen their defenses to stay ahead of today’s most pressing risks.”