Cyber security firm observes rise in cybercrimes

ISLAMABAD: A leading cyber security company on Thursday warned that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and geopolitical and economic instability is contributing to the rise in cyber crimes and cyber attacks. Kaspersky’s Global Research & Analysis Team (GReAT) revealed key cyber threat trends for the first half of 2026 at Cyber Security Weekend for the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa region (META). As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, cyber threats are becoming increasingly diverse and sophisticated, the report said. In Pakistan, 12.2 percent Kaspersky users with online threats blocked by Kaspersky solution during the first half of 2026. According to Kaspersky’s telemetry, online threats exploiting vulnerabilities in websites, emails and web services continued to affect millions of users across the META region during the first half of 2026. Turkiye recorded the highest percentage of users affected by web-based threats at 22.8 percent, followed by Kenya (21.2 percent) and Qatar (19.3 percent). In contrast, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Pakistan registered the lowest share of users targeted by web-borne attacks in the region. Kaspersky experts report that threat actors are increasingly integrating AI into different stages of their operations. Large language models are already being used to generate phishing emails, malicious code and supporting operational content. AI is also beginning to play a larger role in malware development. Researchers have already observed AI-assisted malware development in campaigns linked to the Funk Sec group, which deployed Rust-based malware capable of data theft, encryption and process manipulation. Similarly, during the Revenge Hotels campaign in 2025, threat actors used large language models to generate portions of the infector and downloader code. As cyber threats continue to evolve alongside emerging technologies, Kaspersky recommended that organizations strengthen their cyber security posture through continuous vulnerability management, timely patching, employee awareness training, threat intelligence, and advanced security solutions capable of detecting sophisticated and AI-assisted attacks, the report added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026