Market Data 
Experian (OTC:), a global leader in consumer credit reporting, has released its 12th Annual Data Breach Industry Forecast, which provides insights into potential cybersecurity trends for 2025. The report suggests that emerging threats could arise from AI-savvy teenagers and employees with AI training, as global data breaches continue to rise.
The forecast outlines five key predictions for the next year. It indicates a potential increase in cybercrimes committed by teenagers, who may be lured into hacking through online platforms such as gaming and social media. The FBI has noted that the average age of cybercrime arrests is 19, compared to 37 for other crimes. As legislation against online crimes like revenge porn and cyberbullying becomes more prevalent, the number of teens prosecuted could see a significant rise.
Another prediction points to the possibility of insider fraud within companies. Employees trained in AI could misuse their knowledge to commit fraud against their employers. Experian suggests that at least one major global brand could fall victim to such internal threats in the coming year.
Data centers, particularly those powering AI technologies, are also highlighted as potential targets for cyberattacks due to their high energy consumption. An attack could disrupt a nation-state’s cloud infrastructure by targeting the power supply needed for these data centers.
The forecast also notes a trend of cybercriminals targeting each other, with an expected increase in hacker-on-hacker attacks for political or financial gain. This indicates a shift in the cybercrime landscape where even the perpetrators are not safe from attacks.
To counteract the sophistication of AI-driven fraud, Experian predicts a move towards dynamic identification to replace traditional static identification methods. This would involve continuously changing personal identification information to prevent fraudsters from creating convincing fake documents.
Michael Bruemmer, vice president of Global Data Breach Resolution at Experian, emphasized the growing concern over AI-related incidents, which are expected to become a major focus in 2025. He mentioned that while supply chain breaches and ransomware were dominant in 2024, AI poses a new challenge that will likely lead to increased investments in cybersecurity.
Jim Steven, Head of Crisis and Data Response Services at Experian Global Data Breach Resolution in the United Kingdom (TADAWUL:), echoed these sentiments. He anticipates that data breaches will continue at their current rate, with ransomware becoming more sophisticated through AI. He also foresees a rise in the use of consumer data for reputation damage.
Experian offers international resources for companies affected by security incidents, including IdentityWorksSM Global, multilingual call centers, and notifications in over 100 countries.
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