Hackers to outpace humans as cybercrime industrializes, Fortinet predicts
Fortinet predicts cybercrime will reach industrial scale in 2026, driven by AI, automation, and structured underground markets, forcing organizations to adopt machine-speed defense and integrated threat management.
The 2026 Cyberthreat Predictions Report from FortiGuard Labs forecasts that speed, rather than innovation, will determine success in cyber offense and defense. AI and automation will allow attackers to execute campaigns in parallel, compressing intrusion-to-impact time from days to minutes.
Specialized AI agents will automate key stages of attacks, including credential theft, lateral movement, and data monetization. Stolen data will be analyzed instantly to identify high-value targets and generate tailored extortion messages, turning data into currency faster than ever.
Underground markets will evolve with structured offerings, including botnet and credential rental services with tailored packages, reputation scoring, and automated escrow, signaling the industrialization of cybercrime.
Defenders will need machine-speed operations integrating intelligence, validation, and containment to compress detection and response from hours to minutes. Continuous threat exposure management frameworks and identity-centric security will be essential to prevent large-scale privilege escalation and data loss.
Global collaboration will expand through initiatives such as INTERPOL’s Operation Serengeti 2.0 and the Fortinet-Crime Stoppers Cybercrime Bounty program, combining intelligence sharing and public reporting to disrupt criminal infrastructure and deter future actors.
By 2027, FortiGuard Labs predicts cybercrime will operate with scale and efficiency comparable to legitimate industries, using semi-autonomous AI swarms and sophisticated supply-chain attacks targeting AI and embedded systems. Organizations that unify automation, intelligence, and human oversight into adaptive systems will be best positioned to contain incidents and anticipate adversary behavior.
Fortinet executives emphasize that the next stage of cybersecurity is defined by velocity and integration. Attackers measure success by throughput; defenders must match that speed through continuous, AI-enabled workflows combining threat intelligence, exposure management, and incident response.
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