[Security Issue] Hacking Techniques in 2025
The cybersecurity threat landscape in 2025 is fundamentally different from previous years. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and the acceleration of digital transformation across industries have given attackers unprecedented efficiency and sophistication. Cybercriminals are no longer targeting only technical vulnerabilities. Instead, they are carrying out complex attacks that exploit social relationships, business ecosystems, and human cognitive weaknesses. In other words, hacking techniques in 2025 is evolving.
Key Hacking Techniques in 2025
The Dual Nature of AI
AI has emerged as the defining factor in 2025’s cybersecurity threats. Attackers now leverage AI to maximize the efficiency and precision of attacks, while defenders also deploy AI-powered security systems for predictive and automated protection. Consequently, this dynamic has created a new “AI vs AI” battlefield.
Generative AI, in particular, is transforming social engineering. Traditional phishing emails were often easy to spot due to poor grammar or awkward phrasing. Today, generative AI can learn about a target and produce highly personalized spear-phishing emails at scale. As a result, these emails are far more convincing, tricking victims into clicking malicious links or downloading malware without suspicion.
The rise of deepfake technology has also intensified the threat. Beyond simple voice manipulation, attackers now replicate both faces and voices with alarming accuracy to fuel voice-phishing and fraudulent video calls.
Deepfake scams
Deepfake scams exploit trust by using AI to replicate an individual’s face or voice. Attackers gather publicly available recordings of their target, train deep learning models, and then create fake video calls or audio messages. These scams are especially dangerous in corporate settings where criminals impersonate executives, such as CEOs or CFOs, to order employees to transfer large sums of money.
A striking example occurred in 2024 when Arup, a UK-based engineering company, fell victim to a deepfake scam. An employee was deceived into transferring £20 million (approximately $350 million) after a fake video call imitated the company’s CFO. This case highlights the exploitation of human trust in visual and auditory recognition, revealing a critical cognitive vulnerability.
Uncontrolled AI adoption
AI-driven threats are not limited to attackers. The uncontrolled adoption of AI tools within organizations also creates new vulnerabilities. On average, companies use around 66 generative AI applications, with 10% classified as high-risk. In 2024 alone, generative AI traffic surged by 890%, while data loss prevention (DLP) incidents related to AI more than doubled.
A major cause is the spread of “Shadow AI”: unapproved AI tools adopted by employees to boost productivity. Since these tools bypass corporate oversight, they create blind spots that security teams cannot monitor. For that reason, this opens pathways for sensitive data to leak into unregulated AI systems. This trend underscores that technical defenses alone are insufficient. Accordingly, strong corporate policies on AI usage and governance are urgently needed.
Ransomware and the Triple-Extortion Model
Ransomware remains the most common and destructive financial cyber threat in 2025. Beyond simply encrypting files, attackers now use multi-layered tactics to pressure victims into paying.
The evolution of ransomware tactics
Traditional ransomware relied on single extortion, encrypting data to block access. Attackers then escalated to double extortion, threatening to leak stolen data if payment was refused. Today, triple extortion is becoming the norm: when victims resist, attackers launch distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks to cripple business operations.
This combination not only causes financial damage but also results in customer trust loss, reputational harm, and severe service disruption, leaving victims with little negotiating power.
In the first half of 2024 alone, average ransomware damages exceeded $2 million. With barriers to entry falling and attack methods becoming more advanced, ransomware incidents continue to rise. Vulnerable industries such as construction, professional services, and healthcare are frequent targets.
The triple-extortion model
Triple extortion typically unfolds in three stages:
- Primary extortion (availability attack): Encrypting files and systems to halt operations.
- Secondary extortion (confidentiality attack): Stealing sensitive data and threatening to release it on the dark web.
- Tertiary extortion (additional availability attack): Launching DDoS attacks against corporate websites and servers to prolong downtime and maximize disruption if ransom is not paid.
Recent victims include a domestic law firm targeted by hackers who stole client data and demanded Bitcoin payments. Major companies such as Yes24 and SGI Seoul Guarantee also suffered ransomware infections, causing nationwide inconvenience.
Why ransomware evolved
The rise of triple extortion is closely tied to improved corporate defenses, particularly widespread backup adoption. According to Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42, nearly half (49.5%) of companies hit by ransomware in 2024 successfully restored files through backups, compared to just 11% in 2022—a 360% increase.
As backup strategies matured, file encryption alone became less effective for attackers. To regain leverage, they introduced additional pressure tactics, such as data leaks and DDoS attacks. This shift means that even companies with strong backup strategies must now prepare for the risks of data exposure and operational shutdowns.
The Proliferation of Zero-Day Exploits
Zero-day attacks have always been among the most dangerous threats since they exploit unpatched vulnerabilities. In 2025, these attacks are becoming more frequent, shifting focus from individual users to corporate systems.
The rise and commercialization of zero-day exploits
Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) reported 75 zero-day vulnerabilities exploited in 2024 alone, demonstrating the growing risks to business-critical systems. The widespread adoption of cloud services and IoT devices has massively expanded the pool of potential vulnerabilities.
More importantly, the targets of zero-day attacks are shifting. In 2024, 44% of exploited zero-day flaws targeted enterprise products, highlighting the growing focus on high-value corporate infrastructure and databases. These attacks not only increase in frequency but also in severity.
Zero-day exploits are no longer rare events but an everyday occurrence. The short “window of exposure” between vulnerability disclosure and patch release leaves organizations highly vulnerable. Since attacks often spread before patches can be applied, reactive defenses are insufficient.
How to Protect Against Emerging Threats in 2025
In this environment, organizations must build security strategies on the premise that no defense is perfect. Always follow zero trust, and encrypt the data. Key measures include:
- Adopt threat intelligence: Anticipate potential threats and strengthen proactive defense.
- Implement Zero Trust security: Apply the principle of “never trust, always verify” to all users and devices, both inside and outside corporate networks.
- Strengthen supply chain security: Continuously evaluate the security of partners and open-source components.
- Mandate MFA and employee training: Defend against phishing and social engineering by educating staff and preventing credential reuse.
- Encrypt sensitive data: Since perfect defense does not exist, protect corporate data with strong encryption solutions like Penta Security’s D.AMO.
The cybersecurity battlefield of 2025 is defined not only by new hacking techniques but also by fundamentally different attack strategies and objectives. In conclusion, cybercriminals now weaponize AI, exploit trust relationships in supply chains, and maximize profits with multi-extortion tactics.
As a top global cybersecurity company, Penta Security emphasizes that overcoming these complex threats requires moving beyond traditional perimeter defense models toward Zero Trust, proactive intelligence, and advanced encryption.
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