AI linked to 84% of ransomware attacks, new report finds
- 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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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…
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.
Ransomware Gangs Threaten Employees’ Families as AI-Powered Attacks Escalate
Ransomware operators are extending their extortion tactics beyond corporate networks by threatening employees’ families and using artificial intelligence to enhance their attacks, according to the Semperis 2026 Ransomware Risk Report. Among the surveyed victims, 37% reported threats against their family members or friends, while 84% experienced attacks that involved AI in some form. The findings
Threats from ransomware groups are no longer limited to blocking systems or filtering data: a Semperis survey points to psychological and physical intimidation, doxxing and harassment of employees and their families.
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