New AI-powered ransomware uses OpenAI's gpt-oss-20b model | ITPro

Security researchers have just identified what could be the first ‘AI-powered’ ransomware strain – and it uses OpenAI’s gpt-oss-20b model https://lnkd.in/edkX3ycJ

Someone Created the First AI-Powered Ransomware Using OpenAI's gpt-oss:20b ModelCybersecurity company ESET has disclosed that it discovered an artificial intelligence

Someone Created the First AI-Powered Ransomware Using OpenAI's gpt-oss:20b ModelCybersecurity company ESET has disclosed that it discovered an artificial intelligence

Researchers raise the alarm that a new, rapidly evolving ransomware strain uses an OpenAI model to render and execute malicious code in real time, ushering in a new era of cyberattacks against enterprises. https://lnkd.in/efPfPbEW

Researchers raise the alarm that a new, rapidly evolving ransomware strain uses an OpenAI model to render and execute malicious code in real time, ushering in a new era of cyberattacks against enterprises. https://lnkd.in/e8YPwJWu

A ransomware that talks back? That’s PromptLock for you. ESET found this new strain using an AI model—the same kind of tech behind chatbots—to write and run its own malicious code on the fly. Basically, it’s like ransomware got a mini hacker brain, dynamically cooking up scripts to grab and lock your files in real time. If AI can boost attacks this way, how do we prepare? The threat’s evolving fast; our defenses should too. What’s your take on AI’s role in cybercrime escalation?

First AI Ransomware ‘PromptLock’ Uses 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗔𝗜 𝗴𝗽𝘁-𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝟮𝟬𝗯 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 for Encryption : 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. PromptLock leverages Lua scripts generated from hard-coded prompts to enumerate the local filesystem, inspect target files, exfiltrate selected data, and perform encryption. https://lnkd.in/gdmKijcm

ESET’s discovery of PromptLock (classified as Filecoder.PromptLock.A), the first AI-powered ransomware, feels like a real turning point. Even though it began as an academic proof of concept, the fact it can use a local AI model to generate malicious scripts on the fly shows how quickly attackers could raise the stakes. For me, the big takeaway is clear: we need to stay ahead with AI-aware detection, stronger behavioral analytics, and closer collaboration across the industry. PromptLock may not be in the wild today, but it’s a glimpse of what’s coming. https://lnkd.in/d4FV8UJg

Researchers link NYU project PromptLock to AI-generated ransomware code circulating online, sparking debate over responsible AI research. #AI #Ransomware #PromptLock #CyberSecurity #ResponsibleAI #NYU #AIGeneratedMalware https://lnkd.in/gUWE8GtZ

🚨 Hackers are hijacking exposed Docker APIs to spread a cryptojacking botnet—using TOR domains, masscan scans, and even Chrome debug ports to steal data & expand. The wild part? The malware code includes an emoji, hinting it was LLM-built. Here’s what’s happening ↓