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IBM 2026 X-Force Threat Index: AI-Driven Attacks are Escalating as Basic Security Gaps Leave Enterprises Exposed
AI tools accelerated a 49% rise in ransomware groups and quadrupled supply chain compromises globally, exploiting software vulnerabilities and missing authentication controls, IBM reported.
- On Feb. 25, 2026, IBM released the 2026 index, finding AI accelerates attacker reconnaissance and exploits security gaps, with a 44% increase in attacks.
- Weak authentication on public-facing applications contributed to a 44% rise in attacks, driven by missing authentication controls and AI-enabled vulnerability discovery, IBM X-Force found.
- Among notable findings, IBM X-Force data show vulnerability exploitation caused 40% of attacks, active ransomware groups surged 49%, and over 300,000 ChatGPT credentials were exposed.
- Supply-Chain and third-party compromises nearly 4X since 2020, with IBM X-Force finding manufacturing remains the top-targeted sector, and AI-driven attacks increasingly shifting focus.
- The report cautions that nation-state actor techniques are spreading to financially motivated groups as AI-powered coding tools and leaked tooling increase pressure on open-source and CI/CD pipelines into 2026.
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IBM 2026 X-Force Threat Index: AI-Driven Attacks are Escalating as Basic Security Gaps Leave Enterprises Exposed
ARMONK, N.Y., Feb. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today released the 2026 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index, revealing that cybercriminals are exploiting basic security gaps at dramatically higher rates, now accelerated by AI tools that help attackers identify weaknesses…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources20
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
L 25%
C 67%
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