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2024 is shaping up to be a record-breaking year for cybercrime — and not in a good way. The same artificial intelligence breakthroughs powering productivity tools and creative software are now being weaponized by cybercriminals to launch attacks that are faster, more convincing, and harder to detect than ever before. Automated toolkits let a single attacker run thousands of scams simultaneously, while AI-generated content makes fraudulent emails, calls, and videos nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. Understanding what’s out there is your first line of defense. Here are the biggest cybersecurity threats to watch in 2024 — and what you can do about them.
If you receive an email, text, or phone call urging you to take immediate action — clicking a link, transferring funds, or providing a password — stop and verify independently before doing anything. Urgency is the number-one manipulation tactic used in cyberattacks. When in doubt, go directly to the official website or call the organization using a number you find yourself.

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The Biggest Threats of 2024

Phishing has always been cybercriminals’ favorite tool, but artificial intelligence has transformed it into something far more dangerous. Traditional phishing emails were often easy to spot — broken English, generic greetings, obvious inconsistencies. AI-generated phishing messages are different. They’re grammatically perfect, contextually aware, and alarmingly personalized.Attackers now feed publicly available information — your name, employer, recent activity, even email style scraped from data breaches — into large language models to generate messages that feel like they came from your boss, your bank, or a trusted colleague. Some campaigns even mimic the communication patterns of specific individuals you know.Warning signs to watch for:
  • Unexpected requests to verify your account, reset a password, or confirm a payment
  • Slight variations in email addresses (e.g., support@norton-security.com instead of support@norton.com)
  • Links that hover over to reveal unfamiliar domains
  • Requests for sensitive information that a legitimate company would never ask for by email
  • Messages designed to create panic or urgency — “Your account will be suspended in 24 hours”
Norton’s email and web protection scans links in real time, blocking known phishing sites before you ever land on them.
Ransomware is malicious software that encrypts your files and holds them hostage until you pay a ransom — typically in cryptocurrency. Once it takes hold, ransomware can lock you out of everything: your photos, financial documents, work files, even your operating system.Ransomware most commonly spreads through phishing emails carrying malicious attachments or links, but it can also enter your system through unpatched software vulnerabilities, compromised remote desktop connections, and malicious downloads. In 2023, ransomware attacks hit hospitals, schools, local governments, and countless individuals.What to do if you’re hit:
  • Disconnect the infected device from your network immediately to prevent spread
  • Do not pay the ransom — payment doesn’t guarantee you’ll get your files back, and it funds further criminal activity
  • Report the attack to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov
  • Restore your files from a clean backup — which is exactly why cloud backup is so valuable
Norton’s real-time threat protection detects ransomware behavior before encryption can begin, and Norton Cloud Backup ensures you always have a safe copy of your most important files.
Deepfakes — synthetic audio and video generated by AI — have crossed from the realm of curiosity into a genuine security threat. Using just a few minutes of audio or video, attackers can now create convincing impersonations of real people: executives authorizing fraudulent wire transfers, family members claiming to be in distress and asking for money, or even fabricated video “evidence” used for blackmail.In one high-profile case in 2024, a finance employee was tricked into transferring $25 million after a video call featuring a deepfake of the company’s CFO. Closer to home, “grandparent scams” now use AI-cloned voices to make it sound like a grandchild is in danger and needs emergency funds immediately.How to protect yourself:
  • Establish a “safe word” with close family members that can be used to verify identity in an emergency
  • Be suspicious of any unexpected request for money, even from people you recognize
  • Verify urgent financial or sensitive requests through a separate, known communication channel
  • Remember: convincing audio or video is no longer proof that someone is who they say they are
Data breaches occur when unauthorized parties gain access to a company’s database of user information. Major breaches in 2024 have exposed hundreds of millions of records — usernames, passwords, email addresses, Social Security numbers, credit card details, and more. Once that data is stolen, it’s typically sold in bulk on dark web marketplaces within hours.The downstream effects of a breach are what make them so dangerous for individuals. Stolen credentials are used in “credential stuffing” attacks, where automated tools try your leaked username and password across hundreds of popular websites simultaneously. If you reuse passwords — and most people do — one breach can cascade into dozens of compromised accounts.Norton Dark Web Monitoring continuously scans dark web forums, marketplaces, and leaked databases for your personal information, and alerts you the moment your data appears so you can act before serious damage is done.
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to all the internet-connected devices in your life beyond computers and phones: smart TVs, security cameras, baby monitors, thermostats, smart doorbells, voice assistants, and more. These devices are enormously convenient — and notoriously insecure.Many IoT devices ship with default usernames and passwords that users never change, minimal built-in security, and infrequent software updates. Cybercriminals scan the internet continuously for exposed devices and use them as entry points into home networks, as launch pads for larger attacks, or to spy on residents directly.Steps to secure your smart devices:
  • Change default usernames and passwords immediately after setup
  • Keep device firmware updated
  • Place IoT devices on a separate guest network so they can’t access your primary devices
  • Disable features you don’t use, especially remote access
Norton’s home network security tools help you identify vulnerable devices on your network before attackers find them.
Not all cyberattacks are technical. Social engineering is the art of manipulating people into voluntarily handing over sensitive information or taking actions that compromise their own security. Phishing is one form, but the playbook is much wider.Common social engineering tactics include:
  • Vishing (voice phishing): Callers impersonating bank fraud departments, government agencies (IRS, Social Security Administration), or tech support, pressuring you to reveal account numbers or remote-access your computer
  • Smishing (SMS phishing): Text messages with fake package delivery notices, prize winnings, or urgent account alerts containing malicious links
  • Pretexting: An attacker fabricates a believable scenario — posing as an IT technician, a surveyor, or an employer — to gain your trust and extract sensitive information
  • Baiting: Leaving physical USB drives in public places, hoping someone will plug them in out of curiosity
The best defense against social engineering is a healthy skepticism. No legitimate organization will pressure you to act immediately, demand unusual payment methods, or ask for your password. When something feels off, trust that instinct and verify independently.

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How Norton Protects You Against These Threats

Norton’s layered security approach means you’re defended against all of these threats simultaneously — not just one at a time. No single tool eliminates all risk — but a comprehensive platform like Norton 360 ensures that when one defense is tested, multiple others are already standing behind it. Cybercriminals count on people being unprotected or under-protected. With Norton running quietly in the background 24/7, you’re never an easy target. Ready to get protected? Explore Norton 360 plans and find the right level of coverage for you and your family.