Canada’s internet regulator is warning that generative AI has entered a dangerous new phase — one where the same technology fueling innovation is also accelerating cyberattacks.
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) says in its latest cybersecurity report that AI-driven hacking campaigns are reshaping the threat landscape.
CIRA’s annual survey of 500 IT professionals finds that seven in ten (70%) Canadian organizations are now worried about AI-enabled cyber threats, citing the scale and precision of emerging attacks. As for their biggest concerns, 65% say they are worried about how AI tools gather and process sensitive data, while 61% fear more convincing phishing emails and texts.
Meanwhile, 52% are afraid of deepfake images and videos, and 40% are troubled by deepfake voices used in vishing scams.
“Generative AI is not a passing fad. Unlike earlier technologies, generative AI is increasingly autonomous and, as many note, has the potential to make ‘significant contributions to the future of technology and society as a whole.’
However, with rapid progress comes a new wave of threats. Generative AI has ushered in an era of sophisticated cyberattacks that are easier, faster, and cheaper to execute, posing risks to Canadians across every sector.”
The report also finds that the financial toll of these evolving attacks is rising. Nearly half (43%) of all Canadian organizations say they faced a cyberattack in the past year, with ransomware still the dominant threat. Almost one in four (24%) report a successful ransomware breach, and most of those (74%) paid to recover their data.
In response, 78% of respondents say their companies have boosted budgets for cybersecurity and IT systems management in the past 12 months, reflecting a broader industry shift toward pre-emptive digital defense.
Warns CIRA,
“Canadian cybersecurity professionals can no longer remain passive as AI-driven threats reshape the tactics of both attackers and defenders. Cybercriminals and state actors no longer need vast resources to infiltrate systems. Generative AI has lowered the barrier to entry, making it easier to target Canadian organizations.”
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