Scienza e Tecnologia
MALWARE ATTACKS SEE 131% SPIKE IN 2025, LEADING CYBERSECURITY REPORT FINDS
Threat actors were enabled to create even more convincing fraudulent content thanks to generative AI, with more than three-quarters of CISOs (77%) identifying AI-generated phishing as a serious and emerging threat. Nevertheless, defence teams are catching up, with 68% of organisations invested in AI-powered detection and protection capabilities against such threats this year.
Commenting on these findings, :
AI's potential for misuse has become a defining feature of the threat landscape, with 61% of CISOs believing AI has directly increased ransomware risk. For CISOs, the most pressing concerns include synthetic identity fraud, which uses AI to generate documents and credentials; voice cloning and deepfake videos to impersonate users; model poisoning, in which malicious data corrupts internal AI systems; and the employee misuse of public AI tools.
These emerging technologies blur the line between legitimate and malicious activity, making traditional security controls less effective, especially as cybercriminals seek to compromise trust rather than forced access.
Yet even as companies strengthen their recovery capabilities, many risk guarding an old goalpost. The next wave of attacks will target something less tangible but more powerful, and that is trust.
CISOs highlighted a wide disparity in leadership's understanding of AI-related risks this year. Some reported that their C-suite executives had a "deep awareness" to "no real understanding" of AI's role in such attacks. The median response across the board, however, was that there was awareness, but it is clear that progress was inconsistent and varied widely from business to business.
Looking ahead, resilience, driven by a cultural change rather than prevention alone, will define cybersecurity success in 2026.
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The study was conducted by the Hornetsecurity Security Lab, which reviewed over 72 billion emails that were processed through Hornetsecurity's security services during the reporting period ( 15 October 2024 – 15 October 2025).
Hornetsecurity is a leading global provider of next-generation cloud-based security, compliance, backup, and security awareness solutions that help companies and organisations of all sizes around the world. Its flagship product, 365 Total Protection, is the most comprehensive cloud security solution for Microsoft 365 on the market. Driven by innovation and cybersecurity excellence, Hornetsecurity is building a safer digital future and sustainable security cultures with its award-winning portfolio. Hornetsecurity operates in more than 120 countries through its international distribution network of 12,000+ channel partners and MSPs. Its premium services are used by more than 125,000 customers.
GenAI has not been used to write this press release.
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