Proofpoint research finds AI makes ransomware more effective for 65% of organisations

Proofpoint’s 2026 AI-Era Ransomware Report, based on a survey of 953 security professionals across 12 countries, found that 65% of organisations affected by ransomware said AI made attacks more effective. The report also revealed that 40% of organisations said employees trusted AI-powered attacks, 38% said users interacted with malicious content, and 34% of incidents began with phishing or email-based social engineering. More than two-thirds of victims had data stolen, and 37% of those who paid faced additional ransom demands.