Cybersecurity Threat Landscape in Q1 2025: Rising AI Attacks & MEAPT Vulnerabilities

The Cybersecurity Threat Landscape in Q1 2025 reveals a significant escalation in cyber threats, particularly in the Middle East, Africa, Pakistan, and Turkey (MEAPT) region. Cybercriminals are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to launch sophisticated attacks, while ransomware incidents continue to surge.

According to Check Point Software, cyberattacks per organization rose by 47%, averaging 1,925 weekly attacks. Ransomware incidents alone increased by 126%, with North America accounting for 62% of global cases. This cyber threat evolution has made phishing attacks more convincing and harder to detect, increasing their success rates.​

AI is Reshaping the Cybersecurity Threat Landscape in Q1 2025

The MEAPT region has experienced varied impacts. Kaspersky reports that Turkey and Kenya had the highest number of users affected by web incidents, followed by Qatar, Nigeria, and South Africa. Conversely, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan reported the lowest shares of users attacked by web-borne threats in the region. Kaspersky is monitoring 25 Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups active in the META region, including SideWinder, Origami Elephant, and MuddyWater.​

As mentioned above, ransomware remains one of the most destructive cyber threats. In the Middle East, the share of users affected by ransomware attacks increased by 0.07 percentage points to 0.72% from 2023 to 2024. Attackers often prioritize high-value targets and employ tactics like double extortion, combining data encryption with exfiltration.

The emergence of groups exemplifies the trend of cybersecurity threat landscape in Q1 2025. Take FunkSec for example, which operates under a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model. It has quickly gained notoriety by surpassing established groups like Cl0p and RansomHub, targeting sectors such as government, technology, finance, and education in Europe and Asia.​

The proliferation of Large Language Models (LLMs) tailored for cybercrime has further amplified ransomware's reach and impact. LLMs marketed on the dark web lower the technical barrier to creating malicious code, phishing campaigns, and social engineering attacks, allowing even less skilled actors to craft highly convincing lures or automate ransomware deployment.​

To combat these evolving threats, organizations are encouraged to adopt a multi-layered defense strategy. This includes keeping software updated, providing security teams with the latest threat intelligence, enabling ransomware protection for all endpoints, and implementing solutions that offer real-time protection and threat visibility. Kaspersky recommends using their Anti-Ransomware Tool for Business and the Kaspersky Next product line to safeguard against a wide range of threats.​

What’s Next for Cyber Threats

The cybersecurity threat landscape in Q1 2025 underscores the need for proactive and adaptive security measures. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, leveraging AI for defense, staying informed about emerging threats, and investing in comprehensive security solutions are imperative for organizations worldwide.