CrowdStrike 2025 Global Threat Report
Key risks at a glance
The 2025 edition of the CrowdStrike Global Threat Report paints a clear and urgent picture: threat actors have become faster, stealthier, and increasingly business-like.
The focus has shifted from malware-heavy tactics to malware-free intrusions, identity abuse, social engineering, and AI-assisted operations.
Key Trends and What They Mean for Defenders
1. Adversaries Are Operating Faster Than Ever
Breakout time (time from initial access to lateral movement) dropped to an average of 48 minutes, with the fastest observed at 51 seconds.
Implication: Defenders now have less than an hour to detect and respond before attackers pivot to critical assets.
Recommended Action: Implement real-time threat detection and response, especially for endpoints and identity systems.
2. Social Engineering Becomes the Preferred Initial Access Method
Vishing (voice phishing) attacks grew 442% in the second half of 2024.
Campaigns used a combination of spam bombing, impersonation, and remote access tools like Quick Assist or TeamViewer.
Case Insight: CURLY SPIDER used social engineering to gain control within 4 minutes of engagement.
Recommended Action:
Train employees and help desk staff on vishing indicators.
Establish strict identity verification protocols for phone-based requests.
Enforce just-in-time remote access policies.
3. AI Is Helping Hackers
Criminals are now using generative AI (like ChatGPT) to write phishing emails, create fake identities, and even clone voices and faces.
AI-generated scam emails are more convincing — people are 4x more likely to click on them compared to human-written ones.
What to do:
Review and upgrade your spam filters, and educate employees about AI-generated scams. Use tools that detect unusual email patterns.
4. Hackers Are Avoiding Malware
In 2024, 79% of attacks didn’t use traditional malware. Instead, attackers use stolen passwords and legitimate tools to sneak in quietly.
They use remote monitoring tools or cloud access that looks like regular user activity.
What to do:
Focus on securing user accounts with strong multi-factor authentication (MFA) and watch for unusual login behavior.
5. Cloud Systems Are Being Targeted
Hackers are targeting cloud accounts — like Microsoft 365, AWS, or Google Cloud — by stealing login details.
They also use weak security settings or shared access between companies to sneak in.
One-third of cloud attacks in early 2024 started with a stolen valid account.
What to do:
Regularly check cloud user permissions, enforce strong passwords, and monitor for logins from unusual locations or devices.
6. Security Gaps in Devices and Software Are Still a Big Risk
Attackers are using known security flaws in routers, firewalls, and software to get in — especially if the devices are exposed to the internet.
Sometimes, they combine two or more vulnerabilities to break in more easily (called exploit chaining).
What to do:
Keep all systems updated — especially anything that’s internet-facing like VPNs, firewalls, and cloud tools.
7. Insider Threats Are Becoming More Sophisticated
Some attackers get hired as fake employees (especially developers), then use company laptops to steal data or open backdoors.
One North Korea-linked group used fake LinkedIn profiles and AI-written resumes to land jobs.
What to do:
Tightly control who can install software or access sensitive systems. Watch for unusual work patterns — especially from remote workers.
Strategic Takeaways for 2025
Speed matters: Detection and response cycles must be measured in seconds, not hours.
Identity is the new perimeter: Secure and monitor user and machine identities like critical infrastructure.
Assume compromise: Focus on containment, lateral movement prevention, and blast radius control.
AI cuts both ways: Use it to detect, anticipate, and respond — just like adversaries do.
Access the full report here: CrowdStrike 2025 Global Threat Report
