84 percent of ransomware victims point to AI link: Report
The report says attackers used AI to identify weaknesses, automate intrusions and intensify pressure, while 69% of victims faced repeat attacks.
- On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, cybersecurity firm Semperis published its 2026 Ransomware Risk Report, revealing that 84% of surveyed victims experienced ransomware attacks where cybercriminals exploited artificial intelligence.
- Former White House National Cyber Director Chris Inglis, who served under former President Joe Biden, warns that AI allows attackers to automate intrusions, identify system weaknesses, and tailor social engineering schemes to specific employees.
- Identity systems were targeted in 87% of ransomware attacks, while hackers increasingly used psychological intimidation against staff in 53% of cases, with victims reporting attackers followed through on threats.
- Only 50% of companies maintain dedicated identity backup systems, leaving organizations vulnerable as attackers shift to double extortion—encryption coupled with data theft and threats to expose sensitive information.
- Courtney Guss, Semperis's associate vice president of crisis management, warns that autonomous AI agents can introduce security vulnerabilities and may eventually compromise identity systems, even if unintentionally.
27 Articles
27 Articles
AI Weaponized in 84% of Ransomware Attacks, According to a New Survey
Victims say artificial intelligence was weaponized in the vast majority of recent ransomware attacks on their organizations, according to a new survey. In its 2026 Ransomware Risk Report, cybersecurity company Semperis says found AI was involved in 84% of the incidents experienced by the IT and security professionals polled across nine countries. The survey, limited […]
Survey: AI Tools Linked to Rise in Ransomware Attacks
More than 80% of ransomware victims in a new survey reported that their attackers had weaponized artificial intelligence as part of the scheme, according to data made public Wednesday [1]. The 2026 Ransomware Risk Report, produced by cybersecurity company Semperis and research consultant Censuswide, surveyed 1,200 IT and security professionals across nine countries and eight industry sectors [2]. Forty-four percent of respondents said they exper…
Report Says AI Is Being Used in Most Ransomware Attacks
Cybercriminals aren't just dabbling in AI anymore—they're building their business on it. A new global survey from cybersecurity firm Semperis found that 84% of organizations hit by ransomware say artificial intelligence was used in the attack, and almost half say hackers turned the victims' own AI tools against them....
Huge disaster looming over issue Trump is staking presidency on
Just days after President Donald Trump doubled down on his AI advocacy by pushing to rename it “super intelligence,” CBS News released an alarming report detailing cybercriminals' use of artificial intelligence in ransomware attacks. Trump’s push to rebrand AI is part of a broader effort to cast the rapidly evolving technology in a more favorable light. However, experts and lawmakers have repeatedly raised alarms about AI’s potential risks, citi…
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