Rather than sneak malware in through users’ email inboxes, modern attackers use active credentials to walk through the front door undetected. It is easier and faster to just login than to run complex attacks. Cisco Talos research shows attacks on identity dominated the 2024 threat landscape with valid accounts becoming the most common tactic for gaining initial access. Talos findings also show ransomware attacks overwhelmingly leveraged working account credentials making identity threats a top-of-mind issue for CISOs and CEOs.