SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland, Feb. 12, 2025 ( GLOBE NEWSWIRE )– Acronis, a global leader in , cybersecurity , and , data protection,  , released its biannual report titled,” Acronis Cyberthreats Report, H2 2024: The rise of AI-driven threats”. The report, which was authorized by the Acronis Threat Research Unit ( TRU), provides a thorough analysis of the global threat landscape as it was monitored by Acronis in the second half of 2024. The latest Acronis Cyberthreats Report reveals a substantial increase in internet attacks, a remarkable 197 % increase detected in H2 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, with a 21 % increase in attacks per business. From July to December 2024, almost 50 % of consumers were targeted by email-based attacks at least once.
Email attacks on managed service providers ( MSPs ) also increased. Not surprisingly, spoofing was the desired assault vector for attackers to negligence MSP networks, with 33 % experiencing email phishing activities. Exploits that targeted vulnerabilities in Remote Desktop Protocol ( RDP ) and other remote access tools closely followed this. This demonstrates how cybercriminals are deploying harmful payloads using standard MSP techniques to gain unauthorised access.
The report highlights an alarming new trend: MSPs are increasingly targeted by ransomware organizations linked to advanced persistent threats ( APT ), which poses a significant and growing risk. These powerful stars employ espionage-style tactics, including stolen credentials, social engineering, and supply chain attacks, to invade MSP networks and spread ransom to client systems. This change indicates that MSPs have evolved from low-stakes cyberattacks into corporate entry points.
Another important results include:
- Acronis blocked over 48 million harmful URLs at devices in Q4 2024—a 7 % increase from Q3 2024.
- 31.4 % of all emails received in H2 2024 were spam, with 1.4 % containing malware or phishing links.
- 1, 712 malware cases were reported in Q4 2024, with significant engagement from RansomHub, Akira, Play, and KillSec, accounting for 580 patients. The Cl0p malware team emerged as a vital menace in December, with 68 reported patients.
Regional perspectives:
- The United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Italy were the most qualified locations for malicious attacks in December 2024.
- In December, Brazil ( 13.2 % ) and Singapore ( 13.0 % ) both reported the highest percentage of malicious URLs blocked in the UAE ( 16.2 % ).
” The cyberthreats report from the Acronis Threat Research Unit serves as our yearly pulse on the security environment, offering crucial insight into the latest attack changes and risks”, said Gerald Beuchelt, CISO at Acronis. This transfer highlights the disturbing rise of malware campaigns and the rise in the sophistication of AI-generated attacks. By analyzing trends from the first half of 2024 and providing meaningful recommendations, the report empowers organizations, MSPs, and the security industry to actively develop their defenses to stay ahead of today’s most pressing risks”.
Another intriguing finding is that as remote monitoring and control ( RMM) equipment become more widely used for performance, they pose significant risks to corporate protection. According to the report’s telemetry data, some organizations use multiple RMM tools at once, creating gaps that hackers can utilize. Without proper controls, RMM tools may be access points for ransomware attacks, which cybercriminals frequently use to aggravate their losses.
The report includes practical suggestions to help organizations and MSPs strengthen their defenses against emerging threats in addition to fresh data and analysis from the first half of 2024. It also provides a comprehensive overview of the best vulnerabilities exploited in 2024 and predictions for 2025.
For more information, download a copy of the full Acronis H2 2024 Cyberthreats Report here: https ://www.acronis.com/en-us/resource-center/resource/acronis-cyberthreats-report-h2-2024
To learn more about the report and its findings, visit the Acronis blog here: https ://www.acronis.com/en-us/blog/posts/acronis-cyberthreats-h2-2024-report-ransomware-and-ai-are-a-dangerous-combination/
About Acronis
Acronis is a global cyber protection company that provides natively integrated , , data protection, and endpoint management for managed service providers ( MSPs ), small and medium businesses ( SMBs ), and enterprise IT departments. Acronis solutions are highly efficient and designed to identify, prevent, detect, respond, remediate, and recover from modern cyberthreats with minimal downtime, ensuring data integrity and business continuity. With its unique ability to address the needs of a variety of IT environments, Acronis provides MSPs with the most comprehensive security solution on the market.
A Swiss company founded in Singapore in 2003, Acronis has 15 offices worldwide and employees in 50+ countries. Acronis Cyber Protect is available in 26 languages in 150 countries and is used by over 20, 000 service providers to protect over 750, 000 businesses. Learn more at , www. acronis.com.
Acronis Press Contact
Julia Carfagno
Global Communications Manager
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https ://www.globenewswire .com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f89bfcba-c418-4d39-99b0-3ae89b24c1c2
