CrowdStrike Says AI Is Officially Supercharging Cyber Attacks: Average Breakout Times Hit Just 29 Minutes In 2025, 65% Faster Than In 2024 - And Some Attacks Take Just Seconds
ITPro, Monday, February 23rd, 2026
Cyber criminals are actively exploiting AI systems and injecting malicious prompts into legitimate generative AI tools
AI is expanding enterprise attack surfaces at alarming speed, according to new research from CrowdStrike, with AI-enabled attacks surging 89% over the last year and systems now a top target for cyber criminals.
Findings from CrowdStrike's 2026 Global Threat Report show cyber criminals are actively exploiting AI systems themselves, injecting malicious prompts into legitimate generative AI tools at more than 90 organizations to generate commands for credential and cryptocurrency theft.