ESET: The era of artificial intelligence-driven ransomware has arrived

By: Trademagazin Date: 2026. 01. 30. 11:10

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The era of AI-driven ransomware has arrived, with NFC-based (Near Field Communication – short-range wireless technology) mobile attacks increasing by 87 percent, and the number of ransomware victims exceeding the entire 2024 figure before the end of 2025, an annual increase of about 40 percent, according to ESET’s latest cyber threat report (Threat Report H2 2025).

According to a statement from ESET, a global provider of business and home security software solutions, based on telemetry data and analysis by cybersecurity researchers, attackers are increasingly using artificial intelligence, while ransomware, phishing and mobile fraud have also reached new levels.

According to the report, malware using artificial intelligence is no longer just a theory: fraudsters have begun to use it in practice.
ESET researchers have identified PromptLock, the first known AI-based ransomware that can automatically generate malicious scripts (a series of pre-written instructions) in real time. Although artificial intelligence is currently mainly used by attackers to create phishing and fraudulent content, PromptLock and similar threats mark the beginning of a new era in cybercrime.

The statement quotes Péter Béres, IT manager at Sicontact Kft., which distributes ESET products, as saying:

The emergence of artificial intelligence is a significant turning point in cybercrime. He added that the biggest threat is no longer that malware has become “smarter” with the help of AI, but that attacks have become cheaper and more automated.

According to the report, the number of NFC-based threats on Android mobile phones has increased by 87 percent, while new malware and functions have appeared: in other words, phones have now become targets in exactly the same way as laptops and desktops.

On mobile – especially due to the spread of NFC-based attacks – the use of reliable mobile security solutions, such as endpoint protection and mobile device management, is essential – emphasized Péter Béres, who explained that the report clearly shows that defenses must also adapt: in the age of automated, artificial intelligence-supported attacks, up-to-date endpoint protection, identification of vulnerabilities, regular updates, and conscious management of suspicious emails and links are key for users and companies.