Malware-as-a-Service accounts for 57% of cyber threats

Recent reports highlight a significant surge in ransomware and cybercrime activities, primarily fueled by the rise of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) and Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS). A Darktrace report indicates that MaaS now accounts for 57% of all cyber threats, with phishing emails and remote access trojans becoming increasingly sophisticated. Meanwhile, ransomware intrusions have reached alarming levels, with December 2024 witnessing 432 incidents, driven by advanced RaaS tools that enable more stealthy attacks. The average time-to-ransom (TTR) for ransomware groups has drastically decreased to around 17 hours, with some groups operating within just 4 to 6 hours, reflecting a shift towards rapid, high-volume attacks targeting small and midsize businesses. The introduction of Fraud-as-a-Service (FaaS) is also changing the landscape, allowing novice attackers to execute complex operations with ease. Experts emphasize the need for organizations to enhance their cybersecurity measures to combat these evolving threats effectively.