Agentic AI Will Revolutionize Cybercrime in 2025 According to New Report

  • Feb 07, 2025

Malwarebytes, a provider in real-time cyber protection, recently released its 2025 State of Malware report, which reveals insight into the emergence of agentic artificial intelligence (AI), plus the year’s most prominent threats and cybercrime tactics. The report details a significant uptick in the number of known ransomware attacks, the total value of ransoms paid in 2024, and how IT teams can address them.

“Our research shows that ransomware will continue to be a potent threat to businesses this year,” said Marcin Kleczynski, Founder and CEO, Malwarebytes. “The shift from large ransomware groups to smaller, unpredictable threat actors, combined with the increasing role of AI, means businesses must increase their cybersecurity vigilance and make holistic endpoint security a priority.”

Emerging agentic AI models—which can reason, plan, and act autonomously—will further revolutionize cybercriminal tactics, making attacks more scalable and efficient in 2025. Just as businesses are beginning to explore AI for productivity and security, cybercriminals are leveraging it to improve phishing campaigns, evade detection, and fine-tune attacks. This marks a turning point: the arms race between AI-powered attackers and AI-enhanced cybersecurity tools is rapidly escalating, forcing businesses to rethink traditional defense strategies. With AI rapidly evolving, security teams must integrate AI-driven threat detection and response to keep up and counteract the increasing speed and sophistication of AI-driven cyberattacks.

Known ransomware attacks increased by 13% year-over-year, despite two of the most prominent ransomware groups, LockBit and ALPHV, losing their supremacy. This can be attributed to the rise of smaller, less well-known “dark horse” ransomware gangs posing threats to small and medium-sized businesses. Additionally, 2024 saw the largest known ransomware payment ever recorded when an unknown victim paid $75 million into a crypto wallet.

“If 2024 has taught us anything, it’s that ransomware purveyors aren’t resting on their laurels,” said Lee Wei, SVP, Customer & Product, Corporate Unit at Malwarebytes. “The full attack cycle has gone from weeks to hours and in some cases minutes. Organizations need eyes on their endpoints 24/7 to stay on top of threats and that often means deploying managed services, like Managed Detection and Response (MDR) that can assist teams in filling the gaps.” To read the full report, visit http://threatdown.com/2025-State-of-Malware.

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.