As cited
Copy frozen at (site build).
ransomware
CyberSlop - meet the new threat actor, MIT and Safe Security
MIT and Safe Security released a research paper claiming 80% of ransomware attacks use generative AI, which security researchers have criticized as methodologically unsound and lacking credible evidence. The paper was widely circulated before being removed from MIT's website without notice, though copies persist on Internet Archive and were cited by major publications like the Financial Times. The incident highlights how trusted institutions can spread unsubstantiated claims about AI threats, termed 'cyberslop' by critics, potentially misleading security practitioners and organizations.
Why it matters: Security practitioners should be skeptical of widely-cited research on generative AI threats in ransomware operations, as this case demonstrates that even institutional sources can propagate claims without rigorous evidence, potentially misdirecting defensive priorities and resources.
- Source published
- First seen by Cybersecurity Tracker
Source attribution
Correction
Correction recorded as of .
ransomware
CyberSlop - meet the new threat actor, MIT and Safe Security
No summary had been written when this copy was frozen.
- First seen by Cybersecurity Tracker
Source attribution
Correction
Correction recorded as of .
ransomware
CyberSlop - meet the new threat actor, MIT and Safe Security
MIT and Safe Security published a working paper claiming that 80% of ransomware attacks use generative artificial intelligence (AI), which drew widespread circulation before being quietly removed from the web. Security researchers identified the paper as methodologically flawed, containing unsourced claims and lumping unrelated threats together, yet the claim persisted in media coverage including the Financial Times before the original webpage was revised without public acknowledgment.
Why it matters: Security practitioners relying on institutional research to inform threat prioritization need to critically evaluate claims about AI-driven ransomware, as trusted sources may circulate unvetted conclusions that misrepresent the actual threat landscape and distract from real attack vectors.
- Source published
- First seen by Cybersecurity Tracker
Source attribution
Correction
Correction recorded as of .
ransomware
CyberSlop - meet the new threat actor, MIT and Safe Security
MIT and Safe Security published a working paper claiming that 80% of ransomware attacks use generative artificial intelligence (AI), which drew widespread circulation before being quietly removed from the web. Security researchers identified the paper as methodologically flawed, containing unsourced claims and lumping unrelated threats together, yet the claim persisted in media coverage including the Financial Times before the original webpage was revised without public acknowledgment.
Why it matters: Security practitioners relying on institutional research to inform threat prioritization need to critically evaluate claims about AI-driven ransomware, as trusted sources may circulate unvetted conclusions that misrepresent the actual threat landscape and distract from real attack vectors.
- Source published
- First seen by Cybersecurity Tracker