Anthropic detected and thwarted cybercriminals attempting to carry out hacks using its Claude AI tool. Advances in AI enable attackers to perform complete cyberattacks and reduce the number of required operators. Claude's coding tools can generate software from simple prompts, enabling novices and speeding experienced engineers; the same capabilities lower the barrier for creating malicious code. Attackers used Claude for reconnaissance, automating attacks, calculating ransom demands, and generating alarming ransom notes. One actor used Claude to create ransomware and sold packages on internet forums for up to $1,200. Anthropic characterized the misuse as weaponization of agentic AI and labeled it 'vibe hacking.'
AI isn't just helping white-collar workers be more productive - it's also aiding white-collar criminals. Anthropic said in a Wednesday report that it detected and thwarted cybercriminals attempting to carry out hacks using the startup's AI tool, Claude. While AI has been used in hacking efforts for years, Anthropic said advances in the technology mean it's being used to "perform" cyberattacks throughout the entire operation - and with smaller teams.
Anthropic's suite of Claude coding tools is widely used in the tech world, including at Meta. They can help novice coders create software with simple prompts or help more experienced software engineers be more productive. According to Anthropic's report, the same is true for cybercrime. AI means that hackers no longer require the same level of technical expertise because they can instruct tools like Claude to create malicious code, Anthropic said, describing it as 'vibe hacking.'
In one example, a cybercriminal used Claude code to "commit large-scale theft and extortion of personal data," and then attempted to extort victims into paying to prevent the data from being leaked. The hacker used Claude for reconnaissance of targets, automating attacks, calculating ransom fees, and generating "visually alarming ransom notes," the startup said. In another example, a cybercriminal used Claude to develop ransomware, a type of software that encrypts a target's files and demands payment to unlock them.
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