Microsoft report flags AI-driven shift in cybersecurity threat landscape

• Microsoft published its 2026 Digital Defense Report, flagging AI as a key driver reshaping the cybersecurity threat landscape.
• Threat actors are using AI to speed reconnaissance, sharpen social engineering, support malware development, accelerate post-compromise activity.
• Enterprise risk is rising as AI agents connect to data, APIs, tools, identities, increasing the attack surface through permissions.
• Report highlights AI-specific controls, including agent identity, access revocation, authentication, monitoring, prompt-injection defenses, software integrity.
• AI-assisted code analysis is improving vulnerability discovery for defenders, while also lowering costs for attackers to find exploits.

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