Huntress’ 2025 Cyber Threat Report: What You Need to Know to Stay Ahead

The cybersecurity world is evolving at breakneck speed, and the "2025 Cyber Threat Report" from Huntress offers a front-row seat to the action. This report dives deep into the tactics, techniques, and trends that defined cyber threats in 2024—and what they mean for 2025.

With data drawn from monitoring millions of endpoints and identities, Huntress paints a vivid picture of a landscape where attackers are smarter, faster, and more relentless than ever. Here’s what stood out, and what you need to know to stay ahead.

The Big Picture: A Leveling Playing Field

The report reveals something surprising: cyberattacks aren’t just targeting big companies anymore—small businesses are in the crosshairs too. Hackers used to save their sneakiest tricks for the major players, but now they’re using those same clever moves on everyone. It’s no longer enough to hope you’re too small to notice.

This shift means small and medium-sized businesses have to get serious about protection, because staying under the radar isn’t an option anymore.

Ransomware’s Evolution: Beyond Encryption

Ransomware attackers are switching up their game. Instead of just locking your files with a secret code and demanding payment to unlock them, many are now sneaking in, stealing your data, and threatening to share it unless you pay up.

This new twist means backups alone won’t save you—you need to protect your information from being taken in the first place.

Ransomware: Encryption in Sub-24 Hours

The report’s "Time-to-Ransom" (TTR) analysis reveals how varied these strategies are. Groups like Akira hit hard and fast, deploying ransomware in just six hours, while others, like ClOp, take a slower, more deliberate approach. On average, attackers take 17 hours and 18 actions before pulling the trigger—an urgent reminder that early detection can make or break your defense.

This trend has shifted from what we’ve seen in previous years, normally threat actors would spend days or weeks in a network before making a move.

Phishing Gets Sneakier

Phishing in 2024 got a serious upgrade. QR codes, image-based emails, and fake reply chains tricked users into bypassing traditional filters, while impersonations of brands like Microsoft (40%) and Docusign (25%) exploited trust. Attackers also turned to “Living Off Trusted Sites” (LoTS), hosting malicious links on platforms like Dropbox to dodge email security.

With QR codes alone making up 8% of phishing attempts, expect this trend to grow in 2025 as attackers target mobile devices and personal habits.

Industry Breakdown: Who’s in the Crosshairs?

Healthcare and education topped the hit list, accounting for 38% of incidents, thanks to legacy systems and heavy reliance on scripts and RATs. Technology firms faced RMM abuse and credential theft, often as stepping stones to their clients.

Government entities saw sophisticated tools like Cobalt Strike, while manufacturing dealt with RATs and malware disguised as Adobe components. No sector was spared, and ransomware spiked across the board as cryptocurrency prices soared late in 2024.

What’s Next for 2025?

Looking ahead, Huntress predicts ransomware will lean further into extortion over encryption, with affiliate networks refining their playbooks. RATs, LOLBins, and credential theft will remain go-to tools, while phishing—especially via QR codes and cloud platforms—will get craftier.

As businesses lean harder on cloud services like Microsoft 365, expect identity-based attacks (think token theft and inbox rule tampering) to surge.

How to Fight Back

The report’s not just doom and gloom—it’s a playbook for resilience. Here’s what you can do:

Layer Your Defenses: Endpoint monitoring, EDR, and proactive patching are non-negotiable. Huntress found 91% of impacted systems had an EDR, yet persistence lingered in 21% of single-EDR setups—layering helps.
Lock Down the Basics: Restrict PowerShell, monitor RMM tools, and patch vulnerabilities like fast.
Train Your Team: QR codes and brand impersonation thrive on human error—security awareness training is your frontline defense.
Watch the Cloud: With Microsoft 365 attacks rising, monitor for inbox rule changes, VPN abuse (NordVPN led at 20%), and token theft.
Act Early: With an average TTR of 17 hours, every minute counts—spot reconnaissance or lateral movement before the ransomware hits.

Final Thoughts

Huntress’ 2025 Cyber Threat Report is a wake-up call: cyber threats don’t discriminate by size or sector, and they’re only getting smarter. Huntress, protecting over 3 million endpoints, proves that staying ahead isn’t about big budgets—it’s about vigilance, adaptability, and the right tools. As we head into 2025, let’s take these insights and turn them into action. The hackers won’t stop evolving, so neither should we.

Need help with any of your cybersecurity defenses? Don’t know where to start? Logically has over 50 technical cybersecurity members on staff who are ready to make sure your business is secure against modern threats. Schedule a consultation.