Russian-based information technology security company Kaspersky Lab reported on its 2014 Security Bulletin that virtual payment systems and ATMs will likely be the main targets for cyber criminals in 2015.

Kaspersky warns that virtual payment systems such as Apple Pay, which was launched last Oct. in the U.S., will likely be vulnerable to cyber attacks.

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"Apple's design possesses an increased focus on security (like virtualized transaction data) but we'll be very curious to see how hackers will exploit the features of this implementation," said Kaspersky in the report.

"Previous attacks have focused on NFC payment systems but, thanks to limited adoption, these have reaped limited rewards. Apple Pay is bound to change that." Kaspersky added.

"The enthusiasm over this new payment platform is going to drive adoption through the roof and that will inevitably attract many cyber criminals looking to reap the rewards of these transactions."

The computer security company also said a new trend is emerging. Cyber criminals are targeting banks directly to steal sensitive information that allows them to steal money.

Security experts at Kaspersky recently discovered a cyber attack on an accountant's computer, which allowed hackers to transfer large amounts of money.

Alexander Gostev, Kaspersky's chief security expert of the global research and analysis said they expect to see further evolution of ATM attacks in 2015, with the use of targeted malicious techniques to gain access to the brain of cash machines.

"The next stage will see attackers compromising the networks of banks and using that level of access to manipulate ATM machines in real time," said Gostev.

TagsKaspersky Lab, Virtual Payment Systems, Digital Wallet, ATMs, banks, cyber attacks, Cyber Criminals, hackers, cybercrime