CrowdStrike Says Attackers Are Moving Through Networks in Under 30 Minutes

Slashdot

by msmash

February 25, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Cyberattacks are becoming faster and more sophisticated, with attackers moving through networks in under 30 minutes on average, according to CrowdStrike's latest global threat report. The company revealed that the time it takes financially motivated attackers to progress from initial intrusion to other network systems—known as breakout time—dropped to just 29 minutes in 2025, a 65% increase from the previous year. This alarming trend highlights how cybercriminals and nation-states are refining their techniques to exploit trusted systems undetected, leveraging social engineering to gain access to high-privilege systems more quickly. The report also noted that the fastest breakout time has sped up significantly, from 51 seconds a year ago to just 27 seconds today. This rapid escalation underscores how defenders are struggling to keep pace with increasingly agile attackers who are exploiting cloud infrastructure and using predictable yet effective tactics to evade detection. The growing diversity of threat groups, combined with their reliance on tried-and-true methods, is leaving organizations vulnerable to swift breaches. This shift in attack dynamics has critical implications for cybersecurity professionals and tech enthusiasts alike. As attackers perfect their strategies, the window for detecting and responding to threats continues to shrink, making it more challenging for defenders to mount effective countermeasures. The findings emphasize the urgent need for improved detection methods and faster incident response times to mitigate risks in an increasingly fast-paced threat landscape.

Verticals

tech

Originally published on Slashdot on 2/25/2026