Cyber Threats Will Surge in 2025 (And AI Is a Key Factor)

Although AI has had a positive impact in some areas, experts believe we’re in for a surge of AI-enhanced cyberattacks in 2025 that will make them more frequent, smarter, and harder to spot. The unavoidable truth is that AI is reshaping the world of cybercrime, and it’s crucial to stay ahead of the curve and learn how to protect yourself from these ever-evolving dangers.

How is AI revolutionizing cyberattacks?

In the early days of cybercrime, attackers had to put in much effort to launch an attack. They had to find targets manually, track their online behavior, and look for weaknesses before they could even try to breach a system. Even with simple tools, attackers were heavily involved in every step, making large-scale, sophisticated attacks time-consuming and rare.

Today, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning advancements are changing everything. AI tools let cybercriminals automate many tasks. For example, they can scan for weaknesses, analyze behavior, and craft phishing emails with minimal human involvement. Furthermore, generative AI makes creating realistic deepfake videos and fake profiles easy, using your connection with the people you trust the most against you.

If that's not alarming enough, attackers can now launch highly sophisticated campaigns at incredible speeds, increasing their efforts at an unprecedented rate. The effects of these advancements are already being seen, but it's not all bad news. AI also empowers those who defend against cybercrime. For example, AI provides cybersecurity professionals with tools to counteract the growing wave of threats, from detecting anomalies in real time to dark web monitoring and predicting attack patterns.

As both cyber criminals and defenders use AI, the battle for digital security is rapidly evolving, making it paramount to be vigilant and innovative to stay ahead.

What are the biggest risks you should be aware of?

AI has made cyberattacks more complex. Here are the most important threats to watch out for:

• AI-driven phishing attacks are a major concern because they use machine learning to analyze personal data and create highly targeted, convincing emails. Their goal is to trick you into revealing sensitive information, and their level of personalization makes phishing scams harder to detect and more successful.
• Deepfake technology is a growing threat that uses AI-generated videos and voice recordings to impersonate people you trust and leverage that connection to manipulate you into transferring funds or divulging confidential details. These realistic forgeries are becoming more accessible and harder to distinguish from legitimate communications.
• Automated vulnerability exploitation occurs when hackers use AI tools to rapidly scan systems to identify weaknesses in their software or networks. They can scrape data from millions of systems at high speeds. Once a vulnerability is found, attacks can be launched in minutes, often before organizations can fix it.
• AI-enhanced malware is empowered to adapt and evolve, evading detection systems by mimicking normal user behavior or altering its signature.
• Data privacy risks are magnified by AI's ability to analyze vast amounts of information quickly. This process means personal data harvested from breaches or public sources can be used to predict behavior, bypass security questions, or blackmail victims.
• Identity theft is another growing risk. AI allows cybercriminals to gather and analyze personal data quickly. They can use this data to impersonate victims, open fraudulent accounts, or make unauthorized transactions. Identity theft protection services can help mitigate this risk by monitoring personal information, alerting users to suspicious activity, and assisting in recovery if their identity is compromised.

These tactics make it much harder to protect yourself from scammers than it used to be. As AI evolves, cybersecurity professionals will likely have to defend against even more challenges in the years ahead.

How can you protect yourself from AI-enhanced cyberattacks?

As AI-driven cyberattacks become more sophisticated, adopting stronger measures to safeguard your data becomes more important. Here are some of the best ways to protect yourself from cyberattacks:

• Using strong, unique passwords remains one of the most effective ways to protect against data breaches. If you don’t want to track multiple passwords, consider using a password manager to generate, secure, and store complex passwords for you.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to prevent unauthorized access. This feature requires a second form of verification, making it harder for scammers to log into your accounts.
• Verify the sender’s email address and check for telltale signs of a scam to avoid falling into a trap. Phishing emails are some of the most common attacks, so it’s important to be cautious when clicking links or opening attachments in unsolicited messages.
• Use a virtual private network (VPN). VPNs serve many purposes, but they protect you by encrypting your online footprint. This means attackers are hard-pressed to intercept sensitive information, especially on public Wi-Fi networks.
• Regularly update software, apps, and operating systems, as these updates often patch security vulnerabilities that AI tools could exploit.
• Limit your online presence by adjusting your privacy settings and sharing personal information only with people you trust.

Most importantly, staying informed and taking cyber threats seriously is your best defense against AI-driven cyberattacks. Take the time to educate yourself on common attack methods. Combining these practices gives you a better chance of protecting yourself from AI-enhanced cyberattacks.