Zscaler ThreatLabz 2024 Report: The Rise of Encrypted Attacks and Strategies for Mitigation

Zscaler Report Reveals Alarming Surge in Encrypted Cyber Attacks

In a striking revelation, Zscaler has unveiled its Zscaler ThreatLabz 2024 Encrypted Attacks Report, highlighting a dramatic rise in cyber threats delivered through encrypted channels. Between October 2023 and September 2024, over 87% of all threats were transmitted via HTTPS, marking a 10% increase from the previous year. This alarming trend underscores the growing sophistication of cybercriminals, particularly as they leverage artificial intelligence to enhance their tactics.

"With a significant share of threats now delivered over encrypted channels, organizations must adopt a zero trust architecture with TLS/SSL inspection at scale," stated Deepen Desai, Chief Security Officer at Zscaler. The report emphasizes that malware accounted for a staggering 86% of encrypted attacks, totaling 27.8 billion hits—a 19% year-over-year increase. Attackers are increasingly using encryption to mask malicious payloads, making detection more challenging.

The manufacturing sector emerged as the most targeted industry, suffering 42% of encrypted attacks, nearly three times that of the technology and communications sector. This surge is attributed to the rapid advancements in Industry 4.0, which have expanded the attack surface for cyber threats.

Geographically, the United States, India, and France were identified as the most frequently targeted nations, with the U.S. alone experiencing 11 billion encrypted attacks. The report also noted significant increases in web-based threats, including cryptomining and phishing, potentially fueled by the rise of generative AI technologies.

To combat these covert threats, Zscaler recommends organizations implement comprehensive security strategies, including inspecting all incoming encrypted traffic and leveraging AI-driven cloud sandboxes to isolate unknown attacks. As cyber threats evolve, the call for robust security measures has never been more urgent.