Cybercriminals, who have targeted confidential information of individuals and organizations using classical methods for years, will make their attacks more sophisticated with the development of artificial intelligence, quantum computers and IoT devices.
With the use of developing technologies by attackers, it is predicted that the cost of cyberattacks will reach 12 trillion dollars in 2025. As a reflection of this increase, more complex social engineering methods and advanced malware are expected to emerge. Here are 5 cybersecurity threats expected to emerge in 2025
The year 2024 stands out as a critical year in terms of cybersecurity with increasing threats in the digital world. In this year, where threats brought by artificial intelligence are being combated, cybercriminals have made their attack methods more effective by taking advantage of developing technologies. Experts have accepted that developing technologies will pose a threat to cybersecurity in 2025, just as they did in 2024. With the developments in artificial intelligence, quantum computers, IoT devices and cloud technologies, the cost of cyberattacks is expected to reach 12 trillion dollars worldwide in 2025. Stating that individuals and institutions should take more precautions against increasing cyber threats and that a more strategic approach should be adopted in cybersecurity, Bitdefender Turkey distributor Laykon Bilişim Operations Director Alev Akkoyunlu explained the 5 cybersecurity threats that will stand out in 2025.
1. The great danger from quantum computers
Researchers at Shanghai University in China claim to have found a way to break the most common online encryption method using quantum computers with just 372 qubits. This effectively demonstrates that advances in niche quantum methods can pose small-scale cryptographic risks, and highlights a gradual progression towards large-scale quantum threats. Experts predict that quantum computers could be powerful enough to break current encryption methods as early as 2025. Therefore, it is critical for organizations to switch to encryption methods that can resist quantum decryption before it is too late.
2. Artificial intelligence-powered cyber attacks
In 2024, AI-powered attacks were seen to be particularly effective with methods such as social engineering, phishing, and deepfakes. AI-powered social engineering attacks accounted for 35-37% of all cyberattacks, and this rate is expected to increase even further in 2025. In addition, attackers who used natural language processing technology provided by AI to make phishing emails more convincing managed to fool 60% of target users, and the average cost of these attacks for businesses was recorded as $4.88 million.
In 2025, it is predicted that in addition to the increase in all these attack methods, automatic tools that can exploit security vulnerabilities in real time will be effective in artificial intelligence-focused cyber attacks.
3. Internet of Things (Iot) and cloud security
The evolution of IoT devices and the transition of businesses to cloud platforms will also increase cyber risks. Attacks on these devices increased by 35% in 2024. On the cloud security side, misconfigurations continued to be the leading cause of cyberattacks in 2024. According to research, 83% of organizations reported that weaknesses in authentication and access management were effective in cloud data breaches.
By 2025, it is predicted that more than 90% of companies will use multiple cloud platforms and the number of IoT devices will exceed 32 billion. Many IoT devices, such as smart home technology and sensors, do not meet appropriate security measures, making them an easy target.
4. Digital asset security and cryptocurrency theft
In 2024, digital asset security and crypto theft remained a major target for cybercrime. In the first half of the year, losses from crypto theft reached approximately $1.4 billion. In the second quarter in particular, losses exceeded $600 million, a 100% increase compared to the previous year.
In 2025, as the cryptocurrency market grows further, digital wallets and decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms will be at the forefront of cybercriminals’ targets. In particular, “phishing” attacks on wallets and smart contract vulnerabilities can lead to serious financial losses for individuals and institutions.
5. Cyber threats on social media
Social media platforms will continue to be a hotbed for phishing attacks and data leaks. According to Meta’s 2024 security report, such attacks have increased by 28% compared to last year.
It is predicted that methods such as deeply personalized phishing attacks, AI-powered fake profiles, and deepfake videos will be used more frequently in 2025. Cybersecurity teams will increasingly rely on AI-powered tools to detect and counter these threats. Individuals and organizations that do not take adequate precautions and awareness against these threats may face serious risks.