It’s time to once again pay tribute to once-famous cybersecurity solutions whose usefulness died last year. The cybercriminal world is collectively mourning the loss of these solutions and the easy access they provide to victim organizations. These decisions, though celebrated at the best of times, succumbed to the twin forces of time and impending threats. As well as paying tribute to the celebrities who lost their lives in the past year, this article will look back at some of the brightest stars in cyber security who died last year.
1. Outdated Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Cause of death: Compromised by sophisticated phishing attacks, man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks, SIM swapping, and MFA flash attacks.
An access security superstar for over twenty years, legacy MFA solutions have enjoyed widespread adoption, followed by near-universal responsibility for cybersecurity failures that lead to successful ransomware attacks. These legacy solutions relied heavily on SMS or email codes that were often sent unencrypted. Their vulnerability to phishing, SIM swapping and MitM attacks became apparent in 2024, leaving their users almost defenseless in the face of Generative attacks based on artificial intelligence.
The Cyber Security Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, said that 90% of successful phishing attacks started with phishing. The inherent disadvantage of Legacy MFA is that it relies on users who have good intentions but are not suitable for modern attack techniques.
MFA’s legacy has been fan-favorite and widely deployed, but it’s the most significant vulnerability in most organizations. Jen Easterly, director of CISA, saw the need to move beyond outdated solutions: “… make no mistake, any form of MFA is better than no MFA. But recent attacks make it clear: Outdated MFA is no match for today’s threats.”
The role of FIDO2 and phishing-resistant authentication: On the site of the outdated Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FIDO2 Compliant Phishing Resistant Solutions have become the gold standard for authentication, driving the industry toward a password-free future. Using public-key cryptography, FIDO2 eliminates shared secrets such as passwords, making phishing and replay attacks virtually impossible. Its reliance on hardware security keys and biometrics provides unmatched security while maintaining simplicity for end users. Biometric authentication greatly improves security by ensuring that only authorized users can access the network. It also improves the user experience by eliminating the need to remember and enter passwords and OTPs.
2. Antivirus based on signatures
Cause of death: Packed with polymorphic malware and fileless attacks.
The faithful companion of early Internet users, signature-based antivirus software finally gave up in 2024. Its reliance on known malware signatures has proven insufficient against today’s threats, which change faster than databases can be updated. Polymorphic malware, fileless attacks, and AI-driven threats have exploited its inability to dynamically adapt.
It is being replaced by the Enhanced Detection and Response (EDR) and Enhanced Detection and Response (XDR) platforms, which use machine learning to detect unusual behavior. Signature-based antivirus hasn’t just lost its battle against attackers; it has lost relevance in a world that demands predictable security.
A look at what’s to come: Modern EDR and XDR platforms combine heuristic analysis, AI-driven insights and real-time monitoring. These systems not only detect and block threats, but also offer predictive capabilities to anticipate and neutralize potential attacks before they are detected, setting a new standard for endpoint security. Unlike their signature-based predecessors, EDR and XDR platforms rely on behavioral analysis to detect unusual activity, such as lateral network traffic or abnormal file execution patterns. These platforms use artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze massive amounts of data and adapt to the changing threat landscape. These solutions also integrate seamlessly with other tools, including threat intelligence channels and incident response platforms. They offer a unified view of an organization’s security posture by correlating data across endpoints, networks and cloud environments.
3. Outdated VPNs
Cause of death: Replaced by Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).
The venerable VPN, once the cornerstone of secure remote access, has outlived its relevance in 2024. Performance bottlenecks and vulnerability to lateral movement attacks have made them unacceptable for today’s cyber security era.
ZTNA solutions, with their ability to enforce granular identity-based access policies, are now a better alternative. The change marked the end of trust once and access all, a concept that had outlived its usefulness in the face of constant threats.
Zero trust takes center stage: ZTNA restricts access and continuously audits users and devices, ensuring that access is context-sensitive and dynamically configured. This approach meets the needs of a hybrid workforce and a cloud-centric world, making it an ideal solution for secure connectivity.
Outdated VPNs are being replaced by solutions that combine identity-based security models and dynamic access protocols. ZTNA’s advanced systems use machine learning to measure user behavior, detect anomalies, and implement adaptive security policies in real-time.
Modern tools such as Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) integrate ZTNA with other critical services such as cloud security and network optimization, offering a comprehensive solution that overcomes the limitations of traditional VPNs.
4. Standalone password managers
Cause of death: Trust erosion and ecosystem integration.
Password managers, once lauded for simplifying the storage of credentials, found themselves forced to say goodbye for good in 2024. High-profile breaches undermined trust, and stand-alone solutions simply couldn’t compete with integrated identity management systems.
Digital identity solutions that offer seamless passwordless authentication and robust lifecycle management have eclipsed stand-alone offerings, marking the end of the era of password managers.
The rise of passwordless, phishing-resistant solutions The future of authentication lies in passwordless solutions that prioritize security without compromising user convenience. These solutions use FIDO2 compliance, biometric authenticationand hardware security keys to eliminate passwords, making phishing attacks and credential theft nearly impossible.
By adopting public key cryptography, FIDO2, biometrics and hardware authentication, user credentials stay secure and never leave their device. These methods are resistant to phishing, replay attacks and social engineering, eliminating the most common vulnerabilities of legacy password-based systems.
In addition, passwordless solutions integrate seamlessly with identity and access management (IAM) systems, creating a unified approach to authentication, lifecycle management, and compliance. Password managers, while revolutionary in their day, have been surpassed by the next generation of MFA.
Lessons of the dead
The technologies we lost in 2024 remind us of the inexorable need to adapt to cyberattacks. The loss of these former cybersecurity celebrities highlights important lessons for the industry:
- Adapt or perish: Technologies that failed to evolve with the threat landscape were left behind, exposing their users to serious losses.
- Next-generation MFA takes center stage: The death of the MFA legacy was a signal of growth NGMFA Decisions. These solutions provide adaptive, context-aware security and integrate biometrics, hardware-based security keys, and passwordless technologies to provide unprecedented user experience and resilience to emerging threats.
- Integration through isolation: Stand-alone tools fall short compared to integrated platforms that offer end-to-end solutions. Next generation MFA, resistant to phishing illustrates this evolution by combining authentication with broader identity and access management solutions to create a comprehensive approach to securing organizations.
As we say goodbye to these once-treasured tools, we honor their contributions and embrace the technologies that have replaced them. The world of cybersecurity doesn’t stand still, and neither do we. In this relentless march forward, the only constant is change.
In memory, 2024.
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