Criminal AI-as-a-Service in 2026: How the Underground Market Is Operationalizing Cybercrime


The underground market for criminally oriented generative AI has moved beyond the early hype surrounding ‘malicious chatbots.’ The gradual integration of AI as a productivity layer within cybercrime operations has become the dominant story, indicating that while the potential for fully autonomous AI hacking systems is possible, attackers are not embracing them as expected. Instead, threat actors are increasingly using AI to accelerate routine, but operationally significant, tasks to scale their operations. Drafting phishing lures, profiling targets, debugging code, generating forged documents, modifying malware, translating victim communications, and processing stolen data at scale were once time-consuming activities that AI has made significantly easier. AI does not replace cybercriminals; it lowers friction, increases speed, and expands the range of actors able to perform tasks that previously required more time, skill, or external support.

Read more…
Source:  Rapid7 News


Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox


Related:

  • Adversaries increasingly using vendor and contractor accounts to infiltrate networks

    June 6, 2023

    The software supply chain has become a key security focus for many organizations, but the risks associated with supply chain attacks are often misunderstood. High-profile incidents like those reported by 3CX and MSI routinely grab headlines, continuing a trajectory of big-name security events that involve one specific aspect of the supply chain – software. Successful software-focused ...

  • At least 100,000 Nova Scotians affected by cyber theft of government employee files

    June 6, 2023

    Cyber-criminals made off with the personal and banking information of at least 100,000 Nova Scotians last week, before the Nova Scotia government secured a file transfer service that had been breached as part of a global attack on MOVEit. Nova Scotia’s Minister of Cyber Security and Digital Service Colton LeBlanc provided that number Tuesday as part ...

  • Spanish Globalcaja bank confirms ransomware attack

    June 5, 2023

    A prominent Spanish bank has confirmed that it is dealing with a ransomware attack that has impacted multiple branches. On Friday, Globalcaja issued a statement assuring customers that the incident has not impacted its entities’ operations, and that electronic banking and ATM services are still functioning. Read more… Source: Computing News  

  • Microsoft says Clop ransomware gang is behind MOVEit mass-hacks, as first victims come forward

    June 5, 2023

    Security researchers have linked to the notorious Clop ransomware gang a new wave of mass-hacks targeting a popular file transfer tool, as the first victims of the attacks begin to come forward. It was revealed last week that hackers are exploiting a newly discovered vulnerability in MOVEit Transfer, a file-transfer tool widely used by enterprises to ...

  • Android apps with 30 million downloads contain SpinOk Android malware — delete these now

    June 5, 2023

    Following the discovery that over a hundred Android apps with 400 million combined downloads actually contained the SpinOk malware, security researchers have now found that an additional 92 apps are also affected. For those unaware, SpinOk is a spyware module that was being distributed as a software development kit (SDK) for advertisers. First discovered by the ...

  • British Airways, Boots staff data compromised by payroll cyber hack

    June 5, 2023

    British Airways and retailer Boots said their staff were amongst those hit by a cyber attack on Zellis, a payroll provider used by hundreds of companies in Britain. British Airways, owned by IAG, said it had notified affected employees and was providing them with support. Read more… Source: MSN News