44% Surge in App Exploits as AI Speeds Up Cyber-Attacks, IBM Finds (www.infosecurity-magazine.com)

IBM X-Force has reported a staggering 44% surge in cyber-attacks targeting public-facing applications, driven largely by AI-enabled vulnerability scanning and a lack of adequate authentication controls. The findings from the 2026 IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index highlight vulnerability exploitation as the primary cause of these incidents, accounting for 40% of cases. Additionally, the report notes a 49% increase in active ransomware and extortion groups, reflecting a rapidly evolving and fragmented threat landscape. Mark Hughes of IBM emphasizes that while attackers are not reinventing their methods, AI is significantly accelerating their strategies, overwhelming businesses with escalating software vulnerabilities. The report points to heightened risks as attackers increasingly target software build environments and SaaS integrations, leveraging established relationships and automation in development workflows. With the merging of nation-state and financially motivated cybercriminals, tactics are easily proliferated on underground forums, leading to a broader use of AI in cyber attacks. Notably, smaller groups are now able to execute sophisticated attacks due to accessible AI tools, which streamline reconnaissance and exploit vulnerabilities more efficiently. As these advancements continue to reshape the cybercrime landscape, the implications for the AI/ML community are profound, suggesting an urgent need for improved security measures and innovative defensive strategies.