Survey Finds AI Involved in 84% of Incidents at Ransomware-Hit Firms

Among surveyed organizations hit by ransomware in the previous year, AI was involved in 84% of incidents, while identity systems were targeted in 87%.

The survey covered IT and security professionals whose organizations had been hit by ransomware in the previous year. Its findings describe the experiences of those victims, not the prevalence of these tactics across all organizations.

Nearly 70% of victims faced repeat attacks, and 31% made multiple ransom payments. Psychological or physical threats against employees and their families featured in 40% of attacks. Attackers followed through in 53% of those cases.

Chris Inglis, former U.S. national cyber director and Semperis strategic adviser, described physical threats as a newer tactic: “Holding you at physical risk is the latest phenomenon because we’ve covered most of the other risks.”