VIPRE warns of AI-native malware & deepfake fraud in 2026

Cyber security group VIPRE has warned that AI-native malware, deepfake fraud and automated attacks on connected devices will pose major risks for businesses in 2026, as governments tighten rules on artificial intelligence and data protection.

The company expects criminals to move beyond using generic AI tools and instead build malicious software and exploit kits that are themselves driven by large language models and other generative systems. It also predicts a sharp rise in fraud services that package deepfake technology for hire, alongside increased targeting of internet of things devices and software supply chains.

Usman Choudhary, Chief Product & Technology Officer at VIPRE Security Group, said AI-driven threat innovation is outpacing many corporate defences and placing new emphasis on employee training as a control for both security and compliance risks.

"2025 saw a surge in AI-enabled cyberthreats as adversaries weaponised generative models to produce polymorphic malware, insider-style phishing, and increasingly convincing deepfake audio and video," said Choudhary, Chief Product & Technology Officer, VIPRE Security Group.

Companies have introduced autonomous intrusion detection, intelligent email filtering and behavioural analytics systems. Choudhary said these measures now sit alongside a need for more realistic training for staff who interact with suspicious messages, payments and data requests.

AI-native malware

VIPRE expects what it calls AI-native malware ecosystems to be a defining feature of the threat landscape in 2026. The group forecasts malware that continually rewrites its own code and adapts in real time as it encounters new safeguards.

Attackers are expected to use large language model engines to assemble automated exploit kits. These systems will scan for unpatched vulnerabilities, construct tailored payloads and run attacks without direct human control.

This pattern marks a move towards self-directed intrusions and narrows the window between initial reconnaissance and successful compromise. VIPRE believes AI-native tools will reduce technical barriers for less experienced criminals and increase risk for small and mid-sized enterprises.

The firm expects attackers to use smaller businesses as entry points into broader supply chains. Criminal groups may first compromise a supplier with weaker defences and then pivot into larger partners that depend on that supplier's services or software.

Deepfake fraud services

VIPRE forecasts a rapid expansion of marketplaces that offer fraud-as-a-service built on deepfake models. It expects subscription-based packages that provide realistic voice and video impersonation trained on data taken from public sources.

These tools are expected to mimic executives, suppliers and IT staff. VIPRE links this to a likely rise in high-value business email compromise incidents involving fraudulent payment instructions, engineered requests for multi-factor authentication resets and fake customer support interactions that collect credentials.

The company notes that remote and hybrid working practices have become normal in many organisations. Staff who rely on digital channels may find it harder to distinguish between genuine and synthetic communications, especially when deepfakes draw on contextual information from social platforms.

IoT and OT exposure

VIPRE also expects AI systems to drive more systematic exploitation of internet of things and operational technology in 2026. It links this to the continued spread of smart devices in sectors such as healthcare and industrial control.

According to the outlook, attackers will use AI-driven scanning to identify misconfigured devices, weak authentication and outdated firmware at speeds that exceed manual methods. This process is likely to widen the effective attack surface for critical infrastructure operators, logistics providers and healthcare organisations.

Potential effects include operational downtime, tampered sensor readings and disruption of manufacturing or service delivery. VIPRE also points to ransomware that targets essential processes and aims to halt production or clinical services.

The company indicates that many organisations will respond with tighter network segmentation, continuous monitoring of connected devices and more structured patching programmes.

Supply chain focus

VIPRE notes that 2025 showed the continuing effectiveness of software supply chain attacks. It expects threat actors in 2026 to use AI-generated exploit code and automated scanning of software dependencies to increase the scale of such incidents.

The firm anticipates attempts to insert malicious components into widely used open-source projects and efforts to compromise third-party service providers as stepping stones into enterprise networks. It also expects attackers to use AI models that mimic developer coding styles, which may make malicious commits harder to spot in routine code reviews.

Autonomous bots are likely to scan repositories for configuration errors that expose secrets or create lateral movement paths inside networks. VIPRE suggests that organisations will need stricter software integrity checks, wider adoption of secure coding practices and automated monitoring of their software supply chains.

Regulation and training

VIPRE links these technical trends with expanding global regulation of AI and data protection. It points to further development of the EU AI Act, additional US state privacy and algorithm accountability rules, and new transparency frameworks across the Asia-Pacific region that focus on AI risks.

The company also highlights proposals that would mandate the reporting of AI-generated cyber incidents. It expects stronger enforcement and higher penalties for breaches under these regimes.

According to VIPRE, human error will remain a major driver of compliance failures despite advances in security tooling. It cites examples such as misdirected communications, poor handling of customer data and weak verification processes when dealing with deepfakes.

Choudhary said organisations face growing pressure to show regulators that they manage both technology and people-related risks.

"As regulatory expectations solidify and penalties for breaches rise, human error will persist as the primary cause of compliance failures. Expensive breaches will continue to result from issues such as misdelivery, inadequate handling of customer data, and deficient verification protocols, particularly when dealing with deepfakes," said Choudhary.

VIPRE expects this combination of AI-enabled threats and evolving regulation to drive wider adoption of real-world, scenario-based security awareness training across sectors in 2026.