Nokia’s 2024 Threat Intelligence Report reveals that cybercriminals are increasingly using AI and automation to scale up their attacks, with Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks surging from two to over 100 per day in some networks. Insecure Internet of Things (IoT) devices like smart fridges and wearables are major vulnerabilities, often exploited by botnets, which accounted for 60% of DDoS traffic between June 2023 and June 2024.

The report highlights the growing threat from malware targeting weak devices and vulnerabilities in system-on-chip (SoC) components. It also shows that North America and East Asia are highly targeted regions, with North America suffering the most attacks due to its dense telecom infrastructure.

Rodrigo Brito, Nokia’s head of security, cloud, and network services, warned that the misuse of AI is significantly amplifying attackers’ capabilities. He called for greater collaboration between operators, vendors, and regulators to strengthen network security and raise awareness about these escalating threats.

This report underscores the urgent need for more robust security frameworks as cybercriminals become more sophisticated with AI-powered attacks.