HOT OFF THE PRESS: One of the leading Cyber Security Portals “Security Insider“ published on January 8, 2026 the following guest article by Jochen Werne, CEO Experian DACH
Author’s Introduction
Earlier this year, I published an article on emerging cyber-security risks in 2026 on Security‑Insider, one of Germany’s most highly renowned and trusted portals for cyber security, IT risk, and digital resilience.
The article explores how autonomous AI agents, self-mutating malware, and new human–machine interfaces such as brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are fundamentally shifting attack surfaces, threat actors, and governance requirements. It is written for decision-makers who must prepare today for security realities that will define tomorrow.
👉 Original German article:
https://www.security-insider.de/cybertrends-2026-ki-agenten-bci-a-cf2856d5b3cd76a04233eacb1bc6b615
For international readers, an English translation of the full article is provided below:
Cyber Trends 2026: AI Agents, Malware Mutations & New Interfaces Shift Attack Surfaces
2026 is going to be wild! Autonomous AI agents, self-mutating malware, and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are reshaping the attack surface. Misguided automation will increasingly lead to data breaches, behavior-based detection will replace signature-based methods, and thought phishing will force companies to adopt new BCI risk frameworks.
Introduction – Looking Back to Look Forward
Looking back at 2025 reveals alarming security trends: in Q4 alone, several billion records were leaked in data breaches, with around 12,000 data incidents reported across 139 countries. Building on these developments, organizations will need to adapt to four key cybersecurity trends in 2026.
1. From Human Error to Misguided Automation
In 2026, machines themselves are expected to be responsible for a significant share of data breaches. Autonomous AI agents, which independently carry out complex workflows, will either be targeted by cybercriminals or — if infiltrated — used to disrupt orchestration, manipulate transactions, exfiltrate data, or trigger extortion scenarios. To prepare, companies should establish clear governance, roles, and access controls around these AI agents.
2. The Shape-Shifting Threat: Mutating Malware
Malware that can mutate its own code will increasingly render traditional signature-based defenses ineffective. Such adaptive malware campaigns could remain hidden within systems for months, quietly escalating privileges, siphoning off data, and timing their destructive actions strategically. The consequences could range from disruptions to critical infrastructure to real-time identity manipulation. To counter this, proactive, behavior-based detection techniques, continuous telemetry, and AI-supported defenses will become essential for early detection and mitigation.
3. A New Attack Surface: Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI)
Advances in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) — such as implants, caps, glasses, or headphones with neural links — are opening up entirely new avenues for misuse. Cybercriminals may leverage these technologies, leading to AI-powered manipulations that capture and subtly influence decision impulses — a threat the author refers to as “thought phishing.” These risks extend into gaming, e-commerce, and social interactions, areas with little regulatory structure so far. Organizations are advised to proactively define security and risk frameworks, data protection standards, and ethical guardrails for BCI applications to protect both operations and people.
4. Women Gain Influence in Cybercrime
The gender gap in hacking communities is expected to narrow noticeably in 2026. The proportion of female participants could double compared to today. While initiatives encouraging girls into STEM fields and bug bounty platforms make it easier to learn coding, some may choose criminal avenues. Currently, women make up roughly 25 % of the global security workforce, and this share is expected to reach about 35 % by 2031. At the same time, around 30 % of users in cybercrime forums are already female. For IT security teams, this means more diverse attacker profiles — and, importantly, an opportunity to make defensive teams more inclusive and stronger.
About the Author
Jochen Werne is the CEO of the data and technology company Experian in the DACH region.
