AI-driven scams are expected to pose a significant global challenge for both users and businesses in 2025, according to a list of cybersecurity predictions for the upcoming year shared by Check Point Research this week.
5 cybersecurity Predictions
1. Increase in the number of AI scams
AI-driven scams are projected to increase significantly in 2025, potentially becoming a cornerstone of cybercrime. Among the most anticipated threats are personalized phishing attacks crafted by AI and adaptive malware that can disguise itself in real-time, making detection more difficult.
Additionally, the rise of artificial intelligence tools may lead to a “democratization” of digital crime as these programs become increasingly user-friendly, requiring minimal technical expertise to deploy effectively.
2. Data leaks due to misuse of AI
AI tools integrated into everyday life, like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot, will require careful use in 2025. According to Check Point, a key concern will be the accidental exposure of sensitive information. Sharing data with these platforms, often unintentionally, could result in confidential information being leaked or misused.
Users and organizations must stay vigilant, implementing best practices and safeguards to minimize risks while interacting with AI-based systems.
3. Ransomware attacks will be more aggressive
Ransomware attacks and system intrusions are predicted to escalate in frequency and sophistication in 2025, leading to even more severe consequences for victims. With advancements in AI, these attacks—where data is encrypted and held hostage for ransom—are expected to become more targeted, automated, and efficient.
AI’s capabilities could allow cybercriminals to craft highly personalized attacks and rapidly adapt malware to bypass security defenses. This evolution might make ransomware more common and significantly harder to combat, amplifying its impact on individuals and organizations.
4. Social networks and deepfakes
By 2025, deepfakes are anticipated to reach new levels of realism, posing a serious threat as a tool for scams. These highly convincing AI-generated modifications of photos and videos can be used to spread disinformation or manipulate individuals, potentially leading to significant financial losses.
Criminals are also expected to intensify their use of social networks to harvest publicly shared user data. This information can fuel targeted scams, such as the popular “new number scam” on platforms like WhatsApp, where scammers impersonate trusted contacts to exploit victims. Users are advised to remain vigilant against these increasingly sophisticated threats.
5. Cryptography threats
According to cybersecurity companies, the rapid advancement of quantum computing presents a significant risk to current encryption models. While large-scale attacks are still not expected in 2025, this development is seen as an “imminent threat.”
In response, industries such as healthcare and finance will likely begin taking proactive measures, investing in more advanced encryption methods to safeguard against potential future vulnerabilities caused by quantum computing.
How to protect yourself
The cybersecurity landscape predicted for 2025 highlights crucial warnings about the role of AI in both escalating threats and enhancing protection systems. According to Dr. Dorit Dor, Check Point’s technology director, AI could increase attacks and scams, but it also offers significant potential for strengthening security measures.
“Organizations must use preventative strategies and adapt quickly to protect their operations from emerging threats,” Dor explains. Experts from Check Point suggest that anticipation and adopting AI-driven defense systems will be the key to preventing attacks.
AI agents are a promising solution, capable of processing large amounts of data and prioritizing imminent threats by automating detection processes. This approach helps reduce response time and enhances the efficiency of threat detection and analysis, making it an essential tool in safeguarding against future cyber risks.
