The Apple ecosystem has managed to avoid suffering from many of the worst cybercrimes and exploits over the years. But that could soon change, according to a new report by technology security firm FireEye.

In its “Looking Forward: the 2016 Security Landscape,” report, FireEye outlined a future in which Apple products will become a greater focus for cybercriminals. “Apple’s traditionally secure software and devices have experienced some interesting threats in recent years, some of which have remained persistent and have evolved over time,” according to the report.

That includes the 2014 Masque attack, a threat discovered by FireEye researchers that could allow an authentic app to be replaced with a malicious app. This year, three additional Masque attacks have been discovered, which could enable an attacker to demolish an app, break the app's data container and hijack virtual private network traffic.

Apple’s Success Makes It a Target

The expected increase in attacks against Apple will likely be driven as a result of the company's significant market share in the desktop and mobile device spaces. The company’s success in these markets has made developing attacks targeting its ecosystem increasingly lucrative for criminals.

Another development involves XcodeGhost, a previously identified iOS malware that managed to make its way past Apple’s security checks and into the Apple App Store. Recently, FireEye’s researchers discovered that the threat had breached U.S. enterprises; its botnet was still partially active; and a more advanced variant called XcodeGhost S had been previously undetected.

Apple is hardly the only target likely to experience greater and more numerous threats next year. Industrial control systems (ICS) that are responsible for managing crucial elements of infrastructure are also likely to come under attack more frequently. The reasons: the increasing connectivity of operational technology systems; increased remote monitoring and diagnostics; legacy infrastructure; and more prevalent ICS malware.

New Technologies Make for More Targets

The arrival of the Internet of Things is another development that will give hackers new targets to hit in 2016. The rapid increase in Internet-connected devices will provide an irresistible opportunity for attackers to spy on individuals at home, disarm security systems, and use ransomware to take more devices hostage.

“New Internet-enabled devices are being released regularly these days, and many have weak security controls, allow for new ways of accessing data and ultimately are not well protected from threats,” the FireEye report noted. Next-generation digital payment systems, such as Android Pay, Apple Pay, and a number of other mobile device-enabled platforms, are also likely to experience upticks in malware next year, according to the report.

The increased risks for enterprises could have ramifications for mergers and acquisition activities as well, FireEye said. “Acquiring a company in 2016 could also mean acquiring tainted networks and compromised intellectual property. In order to ensure a secure merger, groups will have to increasingly rely on compromise assessments.”