A recent report indicates that organizations in Africa are facing an unprecedented wave of cyberattacks, with each entity encountering more than 3,000 attacks weekly, the highest rate globally. This increase is largely linked to the swift incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) into business practices, which has outstripped the security measures needed to protect these systems, as detailed in Check Point Software Technologies' latest findings.
The report, part of the AI Threat Landscape Report, analyzed data from January and February 2026. It identifies the current shift in AI application as the "Agentic Era," where AI evolves from a productivity enhancer to a fully autonomous operational system. This transition poses significant cybersecurity challenges, as businesses integrate generative and agentic AI without adequate governance or visibility.
One noteworthy case involved a developer who used an AI-driven environment to create a complex Linux-based malware framework, initially thought to be the product of a coordinated team effort. Check Point's assessments revealed that a single individual had leveraged AI tools for this task. The report emphasizes that AI is reducing the time and expertise needed to execute sophisticated cyberattacks, allowing individuals to mimic capabilities once reserved for organized criminal groups.
Additionally, the analysis found that approximately 3.2 percent of prompts from users of generative AI posed significant risks of sensitive data leakage, with high-risk activities noted in 90 percent of organizations using these tools. Employees reportedly utilize an average of 10 AI tools, contributing to the emergence of "Shadow AI" environments that remain unmonitored by traditional security protocols.