Ai powered ransomware: a new threat with generative AI.

The Era of AI-Generated Ransomware Has Arrived Cybercriminals are increasingly using generative AI tools to fuel their attacks, with new research finding instances of AI being used to develop ransomware. #Security,Security / Cyberattacks and Hacks,Security / Security News,Business / Artificial Intelligence More:https://lnkd.in/e8ANvvUY

Ransomware The Dark Side of AI – Emerging Threats and How to Stay Secure - A dark digital vault with glowing binary code flowing into a shadowy figure controlling strings—symbolizing AI-driven ransomware manipulating sensitive data. https://lnkd.in/eypWAaVn

Everyone is adopting AI. The news is rife with stories of AI bots attacking left and right. Let's cut through the noise and get some data straight from Anthropic. Be sure to click on the link for the PDF which has a lot of great data they analyzed from threat actors relying on Claude. And yes, this is a theme for the content I talk about every week on my cybersecurity live-stream. News from the source without the hype. -joe https://lnkd.in/gWPVgq9g

Ransomware 3.0: When AI Learns to Hack. ⚠️ Ransomware 3.0 is here — at least in the lab. Researchers have built a prototype that uses AI to automate everything attackers normally do manually: 📍 Maps the system the moment it lands 🔐 Finds and encrypts valuable data 📝 Auto-writes ransom notes, adapting the language, intimidation style, and even payment terms to fit the target It’s not “in the wild” yet, but this is a warning shot: AI-driven ransomware could be faster, smarter, and harder to defend against than anything we’ve seen. This isn’t science fiction anymore. It’s a glimpse at how quickly the threat landscape can change when attackers use the same AI tools defenders rely on. #MSP #Cybersecurity #LasVegasTech #ManagedServices #24x7Support

The rise of AI-driven ransomware is no longer a prediction, it’s reality. The discovery of PromptLock, the first ransomware built with the help of a local AI model, should be a wake-up call for everyone in cybersecurity and beyond. AI is not just a tool for innovation, it’s also becoming a weapon for cybercriminals. This makes it more urgent than ever to invest in AI-powered defense, resilient architectures, and security-by-design approaches. We must look ahead and prepare for a threat landscape where adversaries evolve faster, and protection strategies must evolve even faster. #Cybersecurity #AI #Ransomware #FutureOfSecurity

🚨 First AI Ransomware ‘PromptLock’ Uses OpenAI gpt-oss-20b Model for Encryption | Read more: https://lnkd.in/gUaSG559 A new ransomware has been identified, which is believed to be the first-ever ransomware strain that leverages a local AI model to generate its malicious components. Dubbed “PromptLock” by the ESET Research team that discovered it, the malware uses OpenAI’s gpt-oss:20b model via the Ollama API to create custom, cross-platform Lua scripts for its attack chain. #cybersecuritynews #ransomware

🚨 AI vs AI: The Cybersecurity Battleground Has Evolved 🚨 Just read about PromptLock, the first known ransomware powered by a local AI model — OpenAI’s gpt-oss:20b via the Ollama API — used to dynamically generate malicious Lua scripts across platforms. This marks a chilling milestone: AI isn’t just a tool for innovation anymore, it’s now weaponized for encryption and evasion. But here’s the twist I can’t stop thinking about 🤔 : 💡 What if we fight AI with AI 🤣 ? If malicious actors can train models to build ransomware, can defenders train models to detect, decrypt, and neutralize those same threats — using the same architecture? Imagine a cybersecurity framework where AI models are trained not just to recognize attack patterns, but to reverse-engineer them in real time. A kind of “ethical mirror” — where the same intelligence used to create harm is repurposed to dismantle it. This isn’t just a tech arms race. It’s a philosophical shift: 🔐 AI isn’t just a tool. It’s a battlefield. And the best defense might be a smarter offense — built from the same code. Would love to hear thoughts from fellow creators, engineers, and security minds. Are we ready to build AI guardians that speak the same language as AI threats? #AI #Cybersecurity #PromptLock #EthicalAI #DigitalDefense #TechEthics #LinkedInThoughts

“The scariest malware is the one that thinks for itself.” ESET researchers have just discovered something new called PromptLock. Unlike normal ransomware that follows the same script every time, this one uses a local AI model to write its own scripts on your computer. Through Ollama, it asks the AI to generate fresh Lua code that helps it search files, steal data, and lock everything up. That means every victim faces a different version of the attack. Imagine playing chess, but your opponent keeps changing the rules while you are mid-game. That is how defenders feel against PromptLock. The good news is this is still only a proof of concept. It is not spreading widely yet. But it shows us where cyberattacks are heading: AI will be used by attackers just as much as it is used by defenders. What can we do today? • Secure and monitor any local AI tools running in your environment • Keep an eye out for unusual scripting activity like Lua in unexpected places • Control what software can run, and stick to trusted sources • Practice restoring from backups because in the end, they are your safety net The takeaway is simple. Attackers evolve with new tools, but our habits and preparation decide the outcome. Stay curious, keep practicing the basics, and never stop learning. #cybersecurity #ransomware #AIsecurity #infosec #threatintel #securityawareness #incidentresponse

A Friendly Reminder for Internet Users 1. Be cautious with AI agents — Whether in enterprise tools or personal apps, ensure any AI-enabled system is properly secured and access-limited. 2. Use behavior-based defense — Signature-based antivirus may fall short; tools that monitor anomalies like unusual Lua script execution or outbound connections to LLM-serving infrastructure are critical. 3. Keep backups and patches up to date — Regular system snapshots and rapid patching remain your frontline defense against ransomware variants, AI-powered or otherwise. 4. Stay informed — This is a rapidly evolving threat landscape. Awareness and vigilance go a long way.

🚨 New Threat in Cybersecurity: “PromptLock,” the First AI-Powered Ransomware 🚨 ESET researchers have identified “PromptLock,” a proof-of-concept ransomware that uses a local OpenAI gpt-oss-20b model to dynamically generate malicious Lua scripts for cross-platform attacks. Unlike traditional ransomware, PromptLock builds custom payloads on compromised systems—enabling system enumeration, file scanning, data exfiltration, and encryption with the lightweight SPECK algorithm. While still in development, this marks a major evolution in malware design as local large language models gain traction. Security teams must be ready for the new era of AI-driven, adaptive malware—dynamic threats generated and deployed on-the-fly. #Cybersecurity #AI #Ransomware #ThreatIntel #ESET #Infosec