COSTA MESA, Calif. — Experian is warning that 2026 could bring a new era of cyberattacks powered by artificial intelligence, quantum computing and other fast-advancing technologies, according to its newly released Data Breach Industry Forecast.
The report, now in its 13th year, outlines six emerging threats that experts say will make attacks more personalized, harder to detect and increasingly capable of manipulating digital identities and even physical systems.
Experian said cybercriminals are rapidly adopting AI to create synthetic identities, deploy autonomous malware and exploit vulnerabilities across new frontiers such as brain-computer interfaces.
‘Breakneck Speed’
“Technology is evolving at breakneck speed, and cybercriminals are often the first to adopt tools like AI to outpace defenses and exploit vulnerabilities,” Michael Bruemmer, vice president of Global Data Breach Resolution at Experian, said in a statement. “It’s an uphill battle, but organizations can also harness these same innovations to strengthen their security posture.”
Record Breaches Fuel Rising Concern
According to Experian, more than 8,000 data breaches occurred globally in the first half of 2025, exposing an estimated 345 million records, Experian said. The United States, United Kingdom and Canada were the hardest hit among the company’s clients.
“We’re entering a new era where cyberattacks are no longer just about stealing data, they’re about manipulating reality,” Jim Steven, head of Crisis and Data Response Services at Experian in the U.K., said in a statement “Organizations must prepare for threats that are faster, smarter and harder to detect.”
Consumers Fear AI-Driven Threats
Experian said new research in the U.S. and U.K. shows consumers increasingly feel vulnerable as attacks grow more sophisticated. Younger adults, in particular, reported high rates of identity theft and phishing incidents over the past year.
Among key findings:
- One in four millennial adults said they were victims of identity theft in the past 12 months.
- Nearly a quarter reported falling for a phishing attack at home or at work.
- More than four in five expressed concern that AI could be used to generate fake identities indistinguishable from real people.
- In the U.S., 35% of adults worry they could be held personally liable for a cybersecurity mistake at work, and 69% said they do not believe their bank or retailer is prepared to defend against AI-driven attacks. More than three-quarters said cybercrime will continue to accelerate because of AI.
- In the U.K., a third of adults said they fear damaging their professional reputation due to a cyber error, and 62% of breach victims reported that affected organizations did not provide adequate support afterward.
Growing Demand for Incident Response
Experian said its Data Breach Resolution unit — which has handled more than 69,000 incidents worldwide — continues to see rising demand for rapid response services.
