The Cyber Security Report 2026 by Check Point Research provides a comprehensive overview of the global threat landscape based on data collected throughout 2025. A primary focus is the integration of Artificial Intelligence across the attack lifecycle, where it serves as a force multiplier for social engineering and malware development. The report also highlights significant enterprise risks associated with AI deployments, noting a 97% increase in risky AI prompts and widespread vulnerabilities in Model Context Protocols (MCPs).
Beyond AI, the research details structural shifts in cybercrime, including the fragmentation of ransomware operations into smaller, decentralized groups that favor data-only extortion and automated negotiation. The report identifies unmonitored edge devices, such as routers and VPN appliances, as high-value targets for initial access outside standard security controls. Finally, it notes a tightening alignment between cyber operations and geopolitical conflicts, specifically highlighting industrialized Chinese-nexus threats that leverage rapid zero-day weaponization.
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