Yearly, Kaspersky specialists briefly flip into soothsayers. No, our colleagues don’t attain for crystal balls, tarot playing cards or horoscopes to see into the cybersecurity future; their predictions are primarily based on an evaluation of the worldwide traits and threats we encounter in our every day work.
They usually’re typically spot-on: for 2024, we predicted a rise in scams tied to play-to-earn (P2E) video games, the proliferation of voice deepfakes, and different traits.
Now, let’s take a look at which cyberthreats and traits we consider will dominate in 2025:
- AI will change into an on a regular basis work device.
- Scammers scamming in relation to new video games and films.
- Subscription scams will flourish.
- Social networks could possibly be banned.
- Consumer rights over private information will develop.
AI will change into an on a regular basis work device
In 2025, we count on synthetic intelligence to solidify its function in our on a regular basis lives. Main platforms like Google and Bing have built-in AI into search outcomes over the previous 12 months, and customers worldwide are hooked on ChatGPT and its many counterparts. Predicting how precisely AI will develop is hard, however one factor is for certain: what’s standard with common customers is inevitably twice as standard with scammers. Due to this fact, we urge you to train warning when utilizing AI instruments — and remind you that all through 2024, we repeatedly reported on the related threats.
How hackers can learn your chats with ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot
With the popularization of synthetic intelligence in 2025, the related dangers can be seen extra clearly and ceaselessly. Malicious actors are already adept at exploiting AI, so we should always count on much more issues, corresponding to these linked to deepfakes.
Scammers sit up for new video games and films
Fraudsters by no means miss main releases within the leisure business, and 2025 can be no exception. Whereas players eagerly anticipate long-awaited titles like Mafia: Previous Nation, Civilization VII, and Dying Stranding 2, attackers are already devising new schemes involving pretend preorders and digital keys. We received’t even point out the hazards of downloading video games from torrent websites — the dangers are abundantly clear.
Film fanatics received’t be ignored both, as scammers be part of the remainder of us in anticipating sequels and remakes like Superman, Jurassic World Rebirth, Captain America: Courageous New World, Return to Silent Hill, and Tron: Ares. Be particularly cautious — fraudsters might provide tickets to early screenings, promote pretend merchandise, and exploit the love of cinema in each doable method. So get some dependable safety to be entertained securely.
Subscription scams will flourish
In recent times, the world has shifted considerably towards subscription-based fashions for items and providers, and scammers have capitalized on the pattern — simply consider the pretend Telegram Premium subscription rip-off we’ve detailed on our weblog.
Because the variety of subscription providers continues to develop, some customers may be tempted to “purchase a subscription at a reduction” and even “obtain this system without spending a dime”, enjoying proper into the fingers of scammers. Keep in mind: if it sounds too good to be true, it in all probability is. Obtain applications and apps solely from official sources, and guarantee your units have dependable safety, as malware may even be present in authentic app shops.
Social networks could also be banned
In Australia, entry to standard social-media platforms has already been banned for all youngsters below 16 with out exception. Ten years in the past, such an initiative would have been laughed off: “Simply set your age to over 16 and stick with it as normal”. However developments in AI have modified all the things. Dependable age verification methods are actually being applied, making it a lot tougher to bypass such restrictions. The way forward for youngsters’s entry to social media, not solely in Australia however worldwide, relies upon largely on the effectiveness of those methods.
If profitable, this observe might simply be adopted by different international locations, beginning with Australia’s closest financial companions. Whereas an entire ban on social media in 2025 appears unlikely, it’s extremely possible that comparable practices can be launched elsewhere, resulting in restrictions for sure consumer teams.
Consumer rights over private information will develop
Excellent news for anybody involved about their private information privateness: in 2025, customers will achieve better management over their data! That is because of the gradual enlargement of rights associated to information portability, which can simplify the switch of information between the platforms processing it.
Privateness insurance policies such because the GDPR (EU) and CRPA (California, USA) are inspiring comparable reforms throughout different U.S. states and in Asia. And let’s not neglect the 2024 case the place the European Middle for Digital Human Rights upheld consumer rights towards Meta, stopping the tech big from utilizing non-public private information to coach its AI fashions. So, we might see a shift in 2025 within the digital world’s steadiness of energy — tilting it extra in favor of particular person customers.
