Cybercrime is about to change in a big way. Trend Micro’s latest report warns that by 2026, attacks will be powered almost entirely by AI and automation. That means hackers could run campaigns from start to finish without human input.
The study explains how generative AI and agent-based systems will let attackers automate tasks like scanning for weaknesses, breaking into systems, and even negotiating ransoms.
Tools such as polymorphic malware, which can rewrite its own code, and deepfake scams are expected to become common. These make attacks faster, harder to trace, and more difficult to stop.
Hybrid cloud setups, software supply chains, and AI infrastructures are listed as the main targets. Poisoned open-source packages, malicious container images, and weak cloud identities could be used as entry points. State-backed groups may also start storing encrypted data now, waiting for quantum computing to catch up so they can unlock it later.
Ransomware is evolving, too. Future versions could identify victims, exploit systems, and demand payment through automated “extortion bots.” This makes ransomware more persistent and harder to fight.
Trend Micro says companies need to move away from reactive defense. Instead, they should build resilience by embedding security into AI adoption, cloud operations, and supply chains.
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Treating cybersecurity as core infrastructure will help organizations stay ahead of these autonomous threats.
