2024 was a challenging year for cybersecurity, with some of the most significant data breaches and cyberattacks making headlines. In this article, we analyze the key breaches outlined in Wired’s article, “The Worst Hacks of 2024,” along with high-value reference sources to dive deeper into the methods attackers used and the lessons we can learn. For each breach, we summarize the incident, highlight the vulnerabilities exploited, and recommend actionable countermeasures to strengthen defenses.
1. China’s Salt Typhoon Telecom Breaches
The Chinese cyber espionage group Salt Typhoon gained unauthorized access to U.S. telecom companies, including Verizon and AT&T. The group exploited vulnerabilities in network defenses to geolocate individuals and eavesdrop on private phone calls. Notably, the attackers targeted fewer than 150 individuals, such as those under U.S. wiretap orders, state department officials, and presidential campaign members.
What Went Wrong:
• Weak segmentation of telecom infrastructure allowed attackers to access sensitive systems.
• Insufficient monitoring failed to detect prolonged unauthorized access.
Recommended Countermeasures:
• Network Segmentation: Isolate sensitive systems to prevent lateral movement within networks.
• Advanced Threat Detection: Deploy AI-powered tools to identify anomalies and stop unauthorized access in real time.
• Zero-Trust Security Model: Assume all network traffic is hostile until proven otherwise and verify every access request.
2. Snowflake Customer Breaches
Attackers breached Snowflake’s client accounts using stolen passwords, affecting organizations such as Ticketmaster, Santander Bank, and Neiman Marcus. They accessed sensitive customer data and communications. AT&T admitted that nearly all customer communications from a seven-month period in 2022 had been compromised, highlighting the magnitude of the breach.
What Went Wrong:
• Lack of mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) for user accounts.
• Reliance on weak password policies, making accounts vulnerable to credential-stuffing attacks.
Recommended Countermeasures:
• Enforce MFA: Require all users to implement two-factor authentication for account access.
• Educate Users on Security Best Practices: Promote strong password creation and secure credential management.
• Zero-Trust Authentication: Continuously verify user identities even after login.
3. Change Healthcare Ransomware Attack
In February, the ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware group targeted Change Healthcare, affecting over 100 million individuals. The attack disrupted healthcare services nationwide and resulted in the exfiltration of personal and medical data.
What Went Wrong:
• Lack of proactive ransomware detection tools.
• Insufficient offline backups of critical data, leaving the organization vulnerable to ransom demands.
Recommended Countermeasures:
• Endpoint Protection: Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify ransomware before it spreads.
• Regular Backups: Store encrypted backups offline or in a secure, isolated environment.
• Incident Response Plans: Prepare and regularly test response plans for ransomware scenarios.
4. Russia’s Midnight Blizzard Attack on Microsoft
Midnight Blizzard, a Russian SVR-linked hacking group, exploited a legacy test account to breach Microsoft’s executive email systems. The attack revealed the risks of legacy accounts with elevated privileges and poor monitoring.
What Went Wrong:
• Historic test accounts were not decommissioned or secured, providing a backdoor for attackers.
• Weak access controls enabled misuse of privileged accounts.
Recommended Countermeasures:
• Regular Account Audits: Identify and disable unused accounts, especially those with elevated privileges.
• Principle of Least Privilege: Ensure all accounts have the minimum permissions required for their roles.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Apply MFA to all accounts, especially for privileged access.
5. National Public Data Breach
The National Public Data breach exposed the personal information of 1.3 million individuals, including Social Security numbers, financial data, and contact details. The incident highlighted the consequences of poor encryption practices and delayed breach detection.
What Went Wrong:
• Sensitive data was stored without adequate encryption, making it easy to exfiltrate.
• Lack of real-time intrusion detection allowed attackers to remain undetected for weeks.
Recommended Countermeasures:
• Encrypt Data at Rest and in Transit: Use industry-standard encryption to protect sensitive information.
• Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): Deploy IDS to detect unauthorized activity and breaches in real time.
• Incident Response Training: Train staff on breach detection and immediate response protocols.
6. North Korean Cryptocurrency Thefts
North Korean hackers escalated their activities in 2024, stealing $1.34 billion in cryptocurrency across 47 incidents. This accounted for 61% of global cryptocurrency thefts during the year. The attackers exploited weak platform security and user practices, targeting exchanges, wallets, and DeFi platforms.
What Went Wrong:
• Vulnerabilities in cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets were exploited.
• Poor user security practices, such as the lack of multi-factor authentication, left accounts exposed.
Recommended Countermeasures:
• Harden Exchange Security: Implement stricter security protocols for cryptocurrency platforms, including mandatory MFA and hardware wallet integration.
• User Education: Train users to adopt secure practices, such as using hardware wallets and enabling MFA.
• Global Cybercrime Cooperation: Strengthen international partnerships to track and prosecute crypto-related crimes.
Key Lessons Learned from 2024
The major breaches of 2024 highlight recurring themes in cybersecurity: insufficient network segmentation, inadequate authentication measures, weak encryption, and a lack of proactive monitoring. Organizations can and must adopt stronger cybersecurity measures to safeguard themselves against increasingly sophisticated attacks.
Top Recommendations:
1. Zero-Trust Architecture: Verify all access requests, even from within the network.
2. Multi-Factor Authentication: Enforce MFA for all accounts, especially those with elevated privileges.
3. Proactive Monitoring: Leverage AI-powered threat detection tools to identify and mitigate threats in real time.
4. Regular Security Audits: Conduct audits to identify and address vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
5. Cybersecurity Awareness Training: Equip employees and users with the knowledge to recognize and prevent cyber threats.
By analyzing and learning from the failures of 2024, we can move toward a more secure digital environment in 2025 and beyond. The time to act is now.