Cyber attacks have surged by an average of 30% per year over the past five years, with artificial intelligence (AI) playing an increasing role in shaping the threat landscape, cybersecurity experts revealed at Zero Day Con in Dublin.
The conference, held at the Convention Centre, gathered 600 delegates from across the cybersecurity sector to discuss evolving threats and strategies to combat cybercrime.
AI Lowering Barriers for Cyber Criminals
Raluca Saceanu, CEO of cybersecurity firm Smarttech247 and the conference organiser, highlighted how AI is making it easier for criminals to launch attacks, leading to a rapid expansion in cyber threats.
“Phishing attacks are continuing to grow, and cybercriminals are expanding their operations extensively,” Saceanu said. “The barrier to entry is now so low, thanks to AI, that anyone can become a cybercriminal.”
Despite businesses increasing their cybersecurity spending by 8% annually, the risks continue to grow as threats become more sophisticated.
Lessons from Major Cyber Attacks
The HSE’s Chief Information Security Officer, Neal Mullen, reflected on the devastating 2021 ransomware attack that crippled Ireland’s health service, disrupting patient care and exposing sensitive data.
Mullen emphasized that the threat landscape is constantly evolving, making it crucial to maintain vigilance.
“Cyber attacks are changing weekly and becoming more advanced,” he warned. “Our approach now is to ensure a consistent, risk-based response so that if an attack happens again—and it will happen again—we can react swiftly, contain the situation, and limit the damage.”
Gina McIntyre, CEO of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), shared her organisation’s experience with a ransomware attack in 2020 that wiped out crucial data.
“It was an absolute wipeout,” McIntyre recalled. “The hackers encrypted all our data, destroyed backups, and because no one had been in the office for months due to Covid, our usual weekly off-site backups hadn’t happened.”
The attack left the SEUPB struggling to recover for five weeks, underscoring the importance of independent backup systems to protect against catastrophic data loss.
A Call for Greater Cyber Resilience
The conference reinforced the need for both businesses and individuals to take cyber threats seriously. Experts stressed the importance of cybercrime awareness, investing in strong security measures, and developing quick-response strategies to minimize damage from future attacks.
With AI-driven cybercrime on the rise, organisations must stay ahead by adapting their security measures to counter increasingly sophisticated threats.
