Top cyber attacks of 2024: Lessons from the year’s biggest breaches

The cyber attacks of 2024 were memorable to say the least. This year, cybercriminals targeted critical industries and high-profile organizations, using increasingly sophisticated tactics to exploit vulnerabilities. Headline after headline featured a new organization targeted by ransomware or social engineering attacks. But, which ones should we pause to learn from?

In this blog, we recount some of the most significant cyberattacks of the year, providing insights and takeaways for fellow security managers. By reflecting on this year, we can identify growing threats and plan for a better defence in 2025. 

1. The kick-off: The Mother of All Breaches (MOAB) 

The year started with a bang with an attack titled “The Mother of All Breaches” (MOAB). This attack, one of the largest in history, targeted a conglomerate of social media giants and financial institutions, leading to the exposure of billions of records. It was reported that the leak came after a firewall failure by Leak Lookup, a data leak search engine company.

Although it feels like a lot of time has passed since this major headliner happened, it’s important to reflect on what could have prevented the attack to ensure this isn’t how next year begins. 

Your Takeaways

• Secure third-party systems: In 2025, nail down your process for vetting and monitoring the security practices of any third-party vendors or software providers. What are your security non-negotiables for collaborating 
• Incident response planning: Establish clear protocols for managing large-scale breaches, including communication strategies.
• Network segmentation: Limit the exposure of your network to third-parties by segmenting them into different security areas. 

2. The recurring headliner: North Korean cyber farms

2024 was also the year of discovering North Korean cyber farms. Fourteen North Korean nationals were indicted for long-running cyber farm schemes and conspiring against the US government. US Citizens were also arrested for helping with this crime. 

How’d it work? A US scammer would help North Koreans obtain American jobs by giving them fake identities and housing the corporate laptops at his residence. Unauthorized softwares were downloaded onto each laptop to give complete network access to the North Korean scammers. The North Koreans would receive money laundered through the American counterpart and would use that money to fund North Korea’s nuclear weapon program.

Your Takeaways

• Evaluate your onboarding process: In the New Year, consider the background checks you complete when onboarding a new worker. Would it be proficient enough to catch a laptop farm scam?
• Review your early accessibility settings: Consider adding new policies that only allow limited accessibility to newer employees. 

3. The Attack that wasn’t: CrowdStrike shutdown

The CrowdStrike outage in July 2024 created widespread confusion and led to speculation about a possible cyberattack. However, it was later revealed that the disruption was caused by an internal software update error rather than an external attack.

Your Takeaways

• Perfect your communications plan: Even in scenarios where its not a cyberattack that causes a shutdown, have a communications plan ready to inform your customers on the ongoing situation. 

4. The Biggest Trend: Hospital & healthcare attacks

One of the biggest trends to come out of 2024 is cybercriminal’s hyperfocus on hospitals and healthcare organizations. According to TechTarget, upward of 137 million people were affected by 10 largest healthcare data breaches in 2024. 

Why the target on hospitals? These organizations are a wellspring for personal information, housing everything from SIN numbers to addresses to blood types. On top of that, hospitals typically don’t have the resources to have a robust security program. Here’s what we can learn from their hardship:

Your Takeaways

• Scammers take no mercy: Let this be proof that scammers don’t care if you are helping the sick, if you are a small or big business, if you are just starting out. They will do anything to get information to make themselves money. 

5. The biggest international: UK Defense Ministry breach

The UK Ministry of Defence faced a targeted attack in early 2024, compromising personal data of an unknown number of military personnel by going through their payroll system. The system was managed by a third-party contractor. 

Your Takeaways

• • Advanced encryption: Consider upping your encryption to protect sensitive data in 2025. 

• Consider housing data internally: If you have the funding, house as much data as you can internally. This deletes the opportunity for criminals to attack you through third parties. 

6. The biggest in pop culture: The TicketMaster breach

A breach at Ticketmaster exposed over 40 million account of customer payment information. The following shutdown disrupted ticketing services for major events worldwide, making headlines in pop culture sources. The attackers exploited vulnerabilities in third-party integrations, highlighting weaknesses in the broader supply chain.

Your Takeaways

• Focus on financial data: The target of financial information shows the need for better encryption around these areas of business. In 2025, put emphasis on securing your customers sensitive financial data. 
• Third-party risk management: Once again, third parties are causing trouble! Regularly audit third-party vendors and implement contractual security requirements.

8. The most memorable: CDK Global cyber attack 

CDK Global, a major provider of technology solutions to the automotive industry, experienced a devastating cyber attack in the first half of 2024. The breach disrupted operations across multiple automotive dealerships across North America, causing significant financial losses and operational delays for American and Canadian companies. Lawsuits cited the lack of employee security training as a cause for this attack

Your Takeaways

• Invest in security awareness training: 2025 is the year to invest in quality cyber security awareness training. Employees can become your first line of defence and help you build a robust security program. 

The cyberattacks of 2024 serve as stark reminders of the need for vigilance, preparation, and innovation in cybersecurity. By learning from these incidents and implementing the outlined takeaways, organizations can strengthen their defenses, protect critical data, and minimize the impact of future threats