Major cyberattacks in 2024 expose vulnerabilities in US telecoms and healthcare systems

In 2024, significant cyberattacks included breaches by Chinese hackers targeting US telecoms and a ransomware attack on Change Healthcare, affecting over 100 million people. These incidents highlight a rise in state-sponsored espionage and cybercrime. The Salt Typhoon group infiltrated major telecoms like Verizon and AT&T, while attackers exploited weak security at Snowflake, leading to data theft from companies like Ticketmaster. Arrests have been made in connection with these breaches. North Korean hackers also intensified their activities, stealing approximately $1.34 billion in cryptocurrency this year. This represents a sharp increase from previous years and raises concerns about funding for weapons programs.