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10 cybersecurity trends set to shape 2025

  • By Gcore
  • December 13, 2024
  • 6 min read
10 cybersecurity trends set to shape 2025

The 2025 cybersecurity landscape is increasingly complex, driven by sophisticated cyber threats, increased regulation, and rapidly evolving technology. In 2025, organizations will be challenged with protecting sensitive information for their customers while continuing to provide seamless and easy user experiences. Here’s a closer look at ten emerging challenges and threats set to shape the coming year.

1. The rise of zero-day vulnerabilities

Zero-day vulnerabilities are still one of the major threats in cybersecurity. By definition, these faults remain unknown to software vendors and the larger security community, thus leaving systems exposed until a fix can be developed. Attackers are using zero-day exploits frequently and effectively, affecting even major companies, hence the need for proactive measures.

Advanced threat actors use zero-day attacks to achieve goals including espionage and financial crimes. Organizations should try to mitigate risks by continuous monitoring and advanced detection systems through behavioral identification of exploit attempts. Beyond detection, sharing threat intelligence across industries about emerging zero-days has become paramount for staying ahead of adversaries. Addressing zero-day threats requires response agility to be balanced with prevention through secure software coding, patching, and updating.

2. AI as a weapon for attackers

The dual-use nature of AI has created a great deal of risk to organizations as cybercriminals increasingly harness the power of AI to perpetrate highly sophisticated attacks. AI-powered malware can change its behavior in real time. This means it can evade traditional methods of detection and find and exploit vulnerabilities with uncanny precision. Automated reconnaissance tools let attackers compile granular intelligence about systems, employees, and defenses of a target at unprecedented scale and speed. AI use also reduces the planning time for an attack.

For example, AI-generated phishing campaigns use advanced natural language processing for crafting extremely personal and convincing emails to increase the chances of successful breaches. Deepfake technology adds a layer of complexity by allowing attackers to impersonate executives or employees with convincing audio and video for financial fraud or reputational damage.

Traditional security mechanisms may fail to detect and respond to the adaptive and dynamic nature of AI-driven attacks, leaving organizations open to significant operational and financial impacts. To stay secure in the face of AI threats, organizations should look to AI-enhanced security solutions.

3. AI as the backbone of modern cybersecurity

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a mainstay in cybersecurity. From handling and processing large volumes of data to detecting even minute anomalies and predicting further threats, AI is taking the fight against cybercrime to new levels of effectiveness. It’s likely that in 2025, AI will become integral in all aspects of cybersecurity, from threat detection and incident response to strategy formulation.

AI systems are particularly good at parsing complex datasets to uncover patterns and recognize vulnerabilities that might otherwise go unnoticed. They also excel in performing routine checks, freeing human security teams to focus on more difficult and creative security tasks—and removing the risk of human error or oversight in routine, manual work.

4. The growing complexity of data privacy

Integrating regional and local data privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA into the cybersecurity strategy is no longer optional. Companies need to look out for regulations that will become legally binding for the first time in 2025, such as the EU’s AI Act. In 2025, regulators will continue to impose stricter guidelines related to data encryption and incident reporting, including in the realm of AI, showing rising concerns about online data misuse.

Decentralized security models, such as blockchain, are being considered by some companies to reduce single points of failure. Such systems offer enhanced transparency to users and allow them much more control over their data. When combined with a zero-trust approach that can process requests, these strategies help harden both privacy and security.

5. Challenges in user verification

Verifying user identities has become more challenging as browsers enforce stricter privacy controls and attackers develop more sophisticated bots. Modern browsers are designed to protect user privacy by limiting the amount of personal information websites can access, such as location, device details, or browsing history. This makes it harder for websites to determine whether a user is legitimate or malicious. Meanwhile, attackers create bots that behave like real users by mimicking human actions such as typing, clicking, or scrolling, making them difficult to detect using standard security methods.

Although AI has added an additional layer of complexity to user verification, AI-driven solutions are also the most reliable way to identify these bots. These systems analyze user behavior, history, and context in real time to enable businesses to adapt security measures with minimal disruption of legitimate users.

6. The increasing importance of supply chain security

Supply chain security breaches are indeed on the rise, with attackers exploiting vulnerabilities in third-party vendors to infiltrate larger networks. Monitoring of these third-party relationships is often insufficient. Most companies do not know all the third parties that handle their data and personally identifiable information (PII) and almost all companies are connected to at least one third-party vendor that has experienced a breach. This lack of oversight poses significant risks, as supply chain attacks can have cascading effects across industries.

Unsurprisingly, even prominent organizations fall victim to attacks via their suppliers’ vulnerabilities. For example, in a recent attack on Ford, attackers exploited the company’s supply chain to insert malicious code into Ford’s systems, creating a backdoor that the attackers could use to expose sensitive customer data.

In 2025, organizations will need to prioritize investing in solutions that can vet and monitor their supply chain. AI-driven and transparency-focused solutions can help identify vulnerabilities in even the most complex supply chains. Organizations should also examine SLAs to select suppliers that maintain strict security protocols themselves, thereby creating ripples of improved security further down the ecosystem.

7. Balancing security and user experience

One of the biggest challenges in cybersecurity is finding a balance between tight security and smooth usability. Overly strict security measures may irritate legitimate users, while lax controls invite the bad guys in. In 2025, as the cyberthreat landscape becomes more sophisticated than ever before, businesses will have to navigate that tension with even greater precision.

Context-aware access management systems offer a way forward. These systems take into account user behavior, location, and device type to make intelligent, risk-based decisions about access control.

8. Cloud security and misconfiguration risks

As organizations continue to move their services toward the cloud, new risks will emerge. Some of the most frequent reasons for data breaches have to do with misconfigurations of cloud environments: missing access controls, storage buckets that are not secured, or inefficient implementation of security policies.

Cloud computing’s benefits need to be balanced by close monitoring and secure configurations in order to prevent the exposure of sensitive data. This requires an organization-wide cloud security strategy: continuous auditing, proper identity and access management, and automation of tools and processes to detect misconfigurations before they become security incidents. Teams will need to be educated on best practices in cloud security and shared responsibility models to mitigate these risks.

9. The threat of insider attacks

Insider threats are expected to intensify in 2025 due to the continued rise of remote work, AI-powered social engineering, and evolving data privacy concerns. Remote work environments expand the attack surface, making it easier for malicious insiders or negligent employees to expose sensitive data or create access points for external attackers.

AI-driven attacks, such as deepfake impersonations and convincing phishing scams, are also likely to become more prevalent, making insider threats harder to detect. The widespread adoption of AI tools also raises concerns about employees inadvertently sharing sensitive data.

To mitigate these risks, companies should adopt a multi-layered cybersecurity approach. Implementing zero-trust security models, which assume no entity is inherently trustworthy, can help secure access points and reduce vulnerabilities. Continuous monitoring, advanced threat detection systems, and regular employee training on recognizing social engineering tactics are essential. Organizations must also enforce strict controls over AI tool usage to keep sensitive information protected while maximizing productivity.

10. Securing the edge in a decentralized world

With edge computing, IT infrastructure processes information closer to the end user, reducing latency times significantly and increasing real-time capability. Edge enables innovations such as IoT, autonomous vehicles, and smart cities—major trends for 2025.

But decentralization increases security risk. Many edge devices are out of the scope of centralized security perimeters and may have weak protections, thus becoming the main target for an attacker who tries to leverage vulnerable points in a distributed network.

Such environments require protection based on multidimensional thinking. AI-powered monitoring systems analyze data in real time and raise flags on suspicious activity before they are exploited. Automated threat detection and response tools allow an organization to take instant measures in a timely manner and minimize the chances of a breach. Advanced solutions, such as those offered by edge-native companies like Gcore, can strengthen edge devices with powerful encryption and anomaly detection capabilities while preserving high performance for legitimate users.

Shaping a secure future with Gcore

The trends shaping 2025 show the importance of adopting forward-thinking strategies to address evolving threats. From zero-day attacks and automated cybercrime to data privacy and edge computing, the cybersecurity landscape demands increasingly innovative solutions.

Gcore Edge Security is uniquely positioned to help businesses navigate these challenges. By leveraging AI for advanced threat detection, automating compliance processes, and securing edge environments, Gcore empowers organizations to build resilience and maintain trust in an increasingly complex digital world. As the nature of cyber threats becomes more sophisticated, proactive, integrated DDoS and WAAP defenses can help your business stay ahead of emerging threats.

Discover Gcore WAAP

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The rise of DDoS attacks on Minecraft and gaming

The gaming industry is a prime target for distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which flood servers with malicious traffic to disrupt gameplay. These attacks can cause server outages, leading to player frustration, and financial losses.Minecraft, one of the world’s most popular games with 166 million monthly players, is no exception. But this isn’t just a Minecraft problem. From Call of Duty to GTA, gaming servers worldwide face relentless DDoS attacks as the most-targeted industry, costing game publishers and server operators millions in lost revenue.This article explores what’s driving this surge in gaming-related DDoS attacks, and what lessons can be learned from Minecraft’s experience.How DDoS attacks have disrupted MinecraftMinecraft’s open-ended nature makes it a prime testing ground for cyberattacks. Over the years, major Minecraft servers have been taken down by large-scale DDoS incidents:MCCrash botnet attack: A cross-platform botnet targeted private Minecraft servers, crashing thousands of them in minutes.Wynncraft MC DDoS attack: A Mirai botnet variant launched a multi-terabit DDoS attack on a large Minecraft server. Players could not connect, disrupting gameplay and forcing the server operators to deploy emergency mitigation efforts to restore service.SquidCraft Game attack: DDoS attackers disrupted a Twitch Rivals tournament, cutting off an entire competing team.Why are Minecraft servers frequent DDoS targets?DDoS attacks are widespread in the gaming industry, but certain factors make gaming servers especially vulnerable. Unlike other online services, where brief slowdowns might go unnoticed, even a few milliseconds of lag in a competitive game can ruin the experience. Attackers take advantage of this reliance on stability, using DDoS attacks to create chaos, gain an unfair edge, or even extort victims.Gaming communities rely on always-on availabilityUnlike traditional online services, multiplayer games require real-time responsiveness. A few seconds of lag can ruin a match, and server downtime can send frustrated players to competitors. Attackers exploit this pressure, launching DDoS attacks to disrupt gameplay, extort payments, or damage reputations.How competitive gaming fuels DDoS attacksUnlike other industries where cybercriminals seek financial gain, many gaming DDoS attacks are fueled by rivalry. Attackers might:Sabotage online tournaments by forcing competitors offline.Target popular streamers, making their live games unplayable.Attack rival servers to drive players elsewhere.Minecraft has seen all of these scenarios play out.The rise of DDoS-for-hire servicesDDoS attacks used to require technical expertise. Now, DDoS-as-a-service platforms offer attacks for as little as $10 per hour, making it easier than ever to disrupt gaming servers. The increasing accessibility of these attacks is a growing concern, especially as large-scale incidents continue to emerge.How gaming companies can defend against DDoS attacksWhile attacks are becoming more sophisticated, effective defenses do exist. By implementing proactive security measures, gaming companies can minimize risks and maintain uninterrupted gameplay for customers. Here are four key strategies to protect gaming servers from DDoS attacks.#1 Deploy always-on DDoS protectionGame publishers and server operators need real-time, automated DDoS mitigation. Gcore DDoS Protection analyzes traffic patterns, filters malicious requests, and keeps gaming servers online, even during an attack. In July 2024, Gcore mitigated a massive 1 Tbps DDoS attack on Minecraft servers, highlighting how gaming platforms remain prime targets. While the exact source of such attacks isn’t always straightforward, their frequency and intensity reinforce the need for robust security measures to protect gaming communities from service disruptions.#2 Strengthen network securityGaming companies can reduce attack surfaces in the following ways:Using rate limiting to block excessive requestsImplementing firewalls and intrusion detection systemsObfuscating server IPs to prevent attackers from finding them#3 Educate players and moderatorsSince many DDoS attacks come from within gaming communities, education is key. Server admins, tournament organizers, and players should be trained to recognize and report suspicious behavior.#4 Monitor for early attack indicatorsDDoS attacks often start with warning signs: sudden traffic spikes, frequent disconnections, or network slowdowns. Proactive monitoring can help stop attacks before they escalate.Securing the future of online gamingDDoS attacks against Minecraft servers are part of a broader trend affecting the gaming industry. Whether driven by competition, extortion, or sheer disruption, these attacks compromise gameplay, frustrate players, and cause financial losses. Learning from Minecraft’s challenges can help server operators and game developers build stronger defenses and prevent similar attacks across all gaming platforms.While proactive measures like traffic monitoring and server hardening are essential, investing in purpose-built DDoS protection is the most effective way to guarantee uninterrupted gameplay and protect gaming communities. Gcore provides advanced, multi-layered DDoS protection specifically designed for gaming servers, including countermeasures tailored to Minecraft and other gaming servers. With a deep understanding of the industry’s security challenges, we help server owners keep their platforms secure, responsive, and resilient—no matter the type of attack.Want to take the next step in securing your gaming servers?Download our ultimate guide to preventing Minecraft DDoS

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