AI and cyberattacks: how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing (and multiplying) digital threats

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become the invisible engine of most of the most sophisticated and disruptive cyberattacks of 2025. It is no longer science fiction or distant threats: Europe and the rest of the world are suffering on a large scale the impact of automated campaigns, ultra-realistic phishing, DDoS attacks and digital extortion powered by advanced algorithms. NETSCOUT and other international firms warn that AI is forever changing the rules of the game in cybersecurity, placing companies and organizations in the face of increasing risks and scenarios that are still unknown.

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Malicious AI: bots, custom phishing and next-generation ransomware

• Generative AI platforms and models such as WormGPT or FraudGPT are being used by cybercriminals to write emails that mimic human language, create voice and video deepfakes, and automate attempts to access protected systems.
• The result: phishing campaigns so realistic that they evade traditional filters, digital identity impersonation and large scale scams aimed at sectors such as banking, healthcare, retail and public administrations.
• In addition, AI makes it possible to scan vulnerabilities in networks at high speed, design massive ultra-targeted DDoS attacks and coordinate thousands of bots in a matter of minutes.

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Europe, Epicenter and Victim: Recent Cases

• According to NETSCOUT, Europe is among the regions most attacked by automatic cyberthreats and hybrid campaigns, given its high degree of digitalization and the presence of interconnected critical infrastructures.
• Spanish companies, as well as public administration entities and SMEs, have recorded notable increases in AI-generated phishing and ransomware incidents in recent months.
• Experts warn that the average cost of such a breach has increased by more than 25% compared to the previous year, and digital extortion campaigns reach new types of victims.

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Why are AI-powered attacks different?

• They adapt dynamically: the AI learns to circumvent protective measures and personalizes its strategies according to the objective's response.
• Speed and scale: they can launch thousands of simultaneous attacks, automatically changing patterns and techniques so as not to be detected.
• Total automation: from the creation of malware to the exploitation of vulnerabilities, the process is much faster and more efficient than with traditional techniques.

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How do you protect yourself against these new threats?

• Implement cybersecurity and detection solutions that also use artificial intelligence, capable of analyzing behaviors and anomalies in real time.
• Train teams in the recognition of sophisticated phishing, deepfakes and automated campaigns.
• Constant reinforcement of multifactor authentication, network segmentation and minimum privilege policies.
• Strict control of access to AI tools and development environments in companies.
• Regular audits and mock attacks to anticipate and correct vulnerabilities.

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🛡️ Request your free consultancy with Apolo Cybersecurity and become a leader in digital defense

The emergence of AI in the world of cybercrime marks a before and after in the fight for digital security. Adapting, investing and raising awareness is essential so as not to be left behind in a scenario where both attackers and defenders use the same technological weapons.

Are you ready for the paradigm shift in cybersecurity?

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