Cyberattacks targeting Microsoft nearly doubled in the past year, underscoring the pressing threat posed by threat actors. Key themes:
- The lines between nation state actors and cybercriminals are increasingly blurred; nation states are now using cybercriminals and their tools to launch attacks
- Nation state activity was heavily concentrated around sites of active military conflict or regional tension.
- Russia, Iran and China all engaged in election influence efforts this year, with the three actors converging on the upcoming US elections.
- Fraud and financially motivated cybercrime remains on the rise.
- Cybercriminals are experimenting with AI as an efficiency tool.
Microsoft will continue to strengthen its security posture via its SFI initiative, collaborate with the public and private sector to deter cybercrime and advocate for international rules and norms to govern responsible use of cyber online.
For further details, please see this blog post: Cyber-attacks nearly double year over year – Microsoft On the Issues