Cybersecurity Report 2026
The AI-Driven Acceleration of Global Threats
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WHAT TO EXPECT
The cybersecurity landscape has reached an inflection point. While security teams are still struggling to contain the threats of yesterday, the emergence of accessible, potent AI tools has turbo-charged threat actors, shifting the battlefield from volume to hyper-efficiency and advanced evasion.
This report is based on the analysis of 6 billion emails per month and a considerable volume of network traffic, which offers a clear view of this new reality.
Based on an analysis of
- The AI-Powered Threat Surge: Key data showing how accessible AI tools are accelerating attacks, particularly by increasing the evasion capabilities of malware and phishing.
- The Resurgence of Ransomware: The critical metrics behind the sharp 24% increase in organizations reporting a ransomware attack, and the shift in attacker initial access methods.
- Evasive Email Warfare: Detailed analysis from over 6 billion monthly emails, revealing a massive +130.92% jump in malware and the alarming return of legacy infection vehicles like TXT and DOC files.
- CISO Strategies for Resilience: Crucial insights from security leaders on balancing AI’s benefits and risks, with a focus on adopting “Resilience, not perfection” as the new security metric.
- Actionable Forecasts for M365: Informed 2026 projections from the Hornetsecurity Security Lab on protecting the Microsoft 365 environment against evolving threats, including post-quantum risks and supply chain vulnerabilities.
From the shocking resurgence of ransomware to a massive spike in highly targeted, evasive malware, this report is the indispensable guide to understanding the next generation of security risks to your M365 environment.
About the Data Set
Every year, Hornetsecurity’s dedicated Security Lab analyzes the emails scanned by our next-generation security technology. In 2025, more than 70 billion emails were processed. As email remains one of the main vectors used by threat actors to launch attacks, this gives us a unique vantage point to deliver precise and actionable insights into the state of cybersecurity.
This wealth of data, combined with our in-depth understanding of the evolving threat landscape, forms the foundation of this year’s report.
What is the Security Lab?
The Hornetsecurity Security Lab is a dedicated division that conducts advanced research and forensic analysis on emerging cybersecurity threats. Our multinational team of experts combines deep experience in security research, data science, and software engineering to uncover and understand the most critical risks facing organizations today.
In a world where digital threats evolve faster than ever, resilience, not perfection, is the new measure of success. The insights gained at the Security Lab power Hornetsecurity’s next-generation cybersecurity solutions, helping organizations adapt, defend, and thrive in the age of intelligent threats.
