The rise of AI is multiplying cyberattacks in Europe

Artificial intelligence is projected to become the main driver of cyber threats in Europe by 2025, according to a new study. Cyberattacks, AI and Strategy: 2025 Cybersecurity Report of Excelia, a Spanish consulting, technology and professional services firm, which warns of a unprecedented increase in automated attacks, frauds using deepfakes and social engineering campaigns driven by advanced language models during the past 2025.

According to the Excelia report, the attacks of Phishing and smishing grew by 1.265% Globally, by 2025, cybercriminals will be driven by the use of generative artificial intelligence. They will employ language models to create personalized, error-free messages that are difficult for traditional filters to detect. Ransomware remains one of the main threats, concentrating the 35% of serious incidents in 2025. The dominant trend is no longer just the encryption of systems, but the extortion through the threat of publishing data, an increasingly automated strategy with Artificial Intelligence and with a strong reputational and economic impact for organizations.

Furthermore, the use of AI-generated deepfakes has solidified a new type of corporate fraud, capable of impersonating executives in real time through voice and image, overcoming traditional controls and placing the human factor as one of the main risk points.

Public administrations and essential services in the spotlight

The report highlights that during 2025 numerous municipalities and public bodies in Spain suffered ransomware attacks that paralyzed essential services and administrative procedures for days. These incidents reflect the vulnerability of public entities in the face of increasingly sophisticated attacks and the need to strengthen security controls, especially in the technology supply chain.

Meanwhile, sectors such as education, healthcare, telecommunications and industry They have recorded attacks with a high operational and economic impact, demonstrating that cybersecurity is no longer just a technological problem, but a direct risk to business continuity and public trust.

Defensive AI and regulation: keys to the European digital future

In this context, the Excelia report emphasizes that Artificial Intelligence is also becoming a key ally for defense. AI-based detection systems allow for automatic closure of up to 90% of the low-level alerts and anticipate intrusions through behavioral analysis, improving the responsiveness of organizations.

Looking ahead to 2026, the study identifies the following as strategic priorities in Europe: Integration of cybersecurity with regulatory compliance (NIS2, DORA, AI Act), the protection of digital identity as a new security perimeter and advanced risk management in the supply chain.

“Artificial intelligence has completely changed the rules of the game in cybersecurity. In 2025, we have seen faster, more credible, and much harder-to-detect attacks, especially in the form of advanced phishing, ransomware, and deepfake fraud.”, points out Josep Bardallo, Cybersecurity & Cloud Director at Excelia, which adds“Europe faces a scenario in which technology is advancing faster than traditional protection models. Investing in tools is no longer enough: it is essential to integrate cybersecurity into business strategy, strengthen identity management, and prepare people for an environment in which digital trust has become a critical asset.”.

Excelia offers cybersecurity solutions Comprehensive solutions designed to protect organizations against increasingly sophisticated threats, from ransomware and phishing to internal breaches and vulnerabilities in critical systems. Their approach combines prevention, continuous monitoring, advanced detection, and active incident response, helping to ensure the security of data, infrastructure, and applications, as well as regulatory compliance and business continuity.