Subj : Billions of credentials were stolen from businesses around the wo To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Wed Mar 19 2025 11:00:07 Billions of credentials were stolen from businesses around the world in 2024 Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2025 10:47:20 +0000 Description: Flashpoint report reveals hackers stole over 3 billion credentials in 2024 alone. FULL STORY ======================================================================Flashpoi nt report outlines a rise in stolen credentials and data breaches in 2024 Over 3.2 billion credentials were compromised in 2024 Profits from these attacks are fueling the cyber threat landscape Over 3.2 billion credentials were compromised in 2024, new research has claimed, with these details then used to fuel a number of illegal campaigns. Flashpoints Global Threat Intelligence Report said the figure represents a 33% spike year-on-year, and of these stolen credentials, an overwhelming 75% of these were obtained through information stealing malware, or infostealers - which have now infected over 23 million devices worldwide. The most prolific of these is Redline - infecting 9.9 million hosts in 2024. Unsurprisingly, 2024 saw a rise in ransomware attacks, with Flashpoint identifying a 10% increase across all sectors, adding to the 84% increase from the previous year - reinforcing reports that 2024 was the worst year for ransomware on record. A resilient market When ransomware and infostealer groups are disrupted, the market bounces back remarkably quickly, with new groups and malware strains emerging - indicating a highly adaptable and resilient threat landscape. This makes life much more difficult for security teams and law enforcement, so robust threat monitoring and adaptability will be key for cybersecurity going forward. A key takeaway from the report is the increase in data breach activity, with 6,670 publicly reported data breaches in 2024 - responsible for the exposure of over 16.8 billion records - putting organizations, customers, and users at risk, and funding cybercriminal organizations around the world. We live in interesting times, where technology is both a blessing and a curse, said Ian Gray, VP of Intelligence at Flashpoint. The cybersecurity community will find new challenges in AI-augmented attacks, expanding attack surfaces, and increasingly sophisticated social engineering. Threat actors will find not just the opportunities they seek, but also the heightened scrutiny, improved defenses leveraging AI-tools shepherded by human intelligence, coordinated law enforcement actions, and inevitable consequences that follow. You might also like Take a look at our picks for the best malware removal software around Check out our choice for best antivirus software Free online file converters could infect your PC with malware, FBI warns ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/billions-of-credentials-were-stolen-fro m-businesses-around-the-world-in-2024 --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .