Barrier to hacking drops as AI and dark web tools let anyone launch cyberattacks, Europol warns

Cyber threats are becoming more adaptive, professional, and difficult to detect. This trend emphasizes the need for enhanced law enforcement capabilities and international cooperation.

That’s what Europol says in the latest edition of its Internet Organized Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA). The report warns that digital threats are escalating as criminals exploit emerging technologies and online services.

The report highlights how cybercrime is evolving beyond traditional hacking and fraud, with criminal networks increasingly using AI technology, encryption, anonymization tools, and crime-as-a-service platforms to scale their operations.

Europol says these developments are lowering the bar to becoming a cybercriminal while making attacks more targeted and harder for law enforcement to disrupt.

The report reveals that the dark web remains a critical enabler for cybercriminals. At the same time, illegal marketplaces and hacking forums are remarkably resilient to law enforcement activities. For example, BreachForums has survived multiple FBI seizures since 2022.

Europol found that cybercriminals are increasingly using cryptocurrencies to facilitate and hide their criminal activities, making it difficult for law enforcement authorities to trace illicit transactions and collect digital evidence.

Another key finding is that generative AI tools are becoming increasingly common for tailoring social engineering tactics, accelerating and concealing online fraud schemes. Caller ID spoofing and SIM farms have become significant facilitators of large-scale fraud.

As in previous years, ransomware is still a persistent threat, with a significant number of active ransomware brands observed throughout 2025. The distribution and sale of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is also gaining momentum, partially because of the rise of AI-generated CSAM.

Defending against these more sophisticated cyber threats, a more coordinated and active approach is needed.

“As criminals continue to exploit technological advancements, it is crucial that we enhance our capabilities and collaborate more effectively to protect our citizens and critical infrastructure,” Head of the European Cybercrime Center at Europol Edvardas Šileris said in a statement.

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