84 percent of ransomware victims point to AI link: Report
AI is accelerating attack development and making identity recovery harder, while 69% of victims faced repeated ransomware attacks, Semperis said.
- 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.
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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....
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Morgan County Citizen
PR NewswireSemperis 2026 Ransomware Report Reveals Increases in AI-Driven Attacks and a Rise in Physical Threats Against Executives and Their Families
The study reveals AI is reshaping ransomware as repeat attacks, threats to employees and their families, and attacks on identity systems outpace recovery readiness.
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