Automated Cyberattacks and AI Weaponization: A New Era for Cybersecurity Investments

The Fortinet 2025 Global Threat Landscape Report paints a stark picture: cyberattacks are becoming faster, more automated, and increasingly powered by artificial intelligence. With adversaries exploiting vulnerabilities at machine speed, the cybersecurity industry faces a critical inflection point—one that demands urgent investment in next-generation defense technologies. Here’s why investors should pay close attention.

The Automated Threat Surge

The report reveals alarming trends in the scale and sophistication of cyberattacks. In 2024, cybercriminals conducted 36,000 malicious scans per second, a 16.7% year-over-year increase, targeting exposed services like VoIP systems and industrial protocols. These scans enable rapid mapping of digital infrastructure, with 97 billion exploitation attempts recorded in the latter half of 2024 alone. Notably, legacy vulnerabilities remain a primary target: CVE-2017-0147 (Windows SMB) accounted for 26.7% of all exploitation attempts, underscoring the persistent risk of unpatched systems.

The rise of cloud and IoT attacks is equally concerning. 70% of cloud breaches involved unauthorized access from unfamiliar geographies, while 20% of exploits targeted IoT devices—such as routers and cameras—with weak credentials or outdated firmware. Compounding this, credential theft has exploded: over 100 billion compromised credentials were traded on darknet forums in 2024, a 42% annual increase. Groups like BestCombo now package and validate stolen credentials for mass exploitation, slashing the barriers to entry for would-be attackers.

The AI Revolution in Cybercrime

Adversaries are not just scaling attacks—they’re leveraging AI to bypass traditional defenses. Tools like FraudGPT (for hyper-realistic phishing emails) and ElevenLabs (voice deepfakes) enable “AI-as-a-Service” platforms, reducing the need for manual coding. These tools have streamlined credential-stuffing attacks, allowing adversaries to exploit stolen “combo lists” at unprecedented scale.

The darknet has evolved into a “Cybercrime-as-a-Service (CaaS)” marketplace, where over 40,000 new vulnerabilities (a 39% increase from 2023) are weaponized via automated exploit kits. Initial Access Brokers (IABs) now sell corporate credentials, RDP access, and web shells—lowering costs for attackers and accelerating breach timelines. In this environment, organizations face compromises within days, not weeks or months.

Strategic Imperatives for Defenders—and Investment Opportunities

To counter these threats, organizations must adopt proactive strategies:

1. Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM): Real-time attack surface monitoring, breach simulations, and risk-based vulnerability prioritization (e.g., EPSS/CVSS frameworks) are critical.
2. Darknet Monitoring: Tracking underground forums for leaked credentials or exploit discussions allows preemptive mitigation.
3. Zero Trust Architecture: With credentials as the top attack vector, robust identity management, MFA, and geolocation monitoring are non-negotiable.

These imperatives are fueling demand for advanced cybersecurity solutions. Companies specializing in AI-driven threat detection, cloud/IoT security, and credential protection are positioned to thrive. For example, CrowdStrike’s Falcon AI platform, which identifies threats in real time, or Okta’s identity governance tools, align with these needs.

Conclusion: The Cybersecurity Investment Case

The data is clear: automated attacks and AI weaponization are reshaping the threat landscape, creating both risks and opportunities. Organizations that fail to modernize their defenses risk catastrophic breaches—60% of breached companies in 2024 faced financial losses exceeding $100 million, according to the report. Conversely, cybersecurity firms addressing these challenges stand to benefit handsomely.

Investors should prioritize companies with:
- AI-native threat detection (e.g., Darktrace’s self-learning systems).
- Cloud/IoT security platforms (e.g., Zscaler’s zero-trust network-as-a-service).
- Darknet monitoring and credential protection (e.g., Exabeam’s identity analytics).

The sector’s growth trajectory is undeniable. With global cybersecurity spending projected to hit $433 billion by 2028 (a 9% CAGR), now is the time to invest in firms that can turn the tide against automated threats. The stakes couldn’t be higher—or the opportunities more compelling.