Chinese hackers use DeepSeek and other open-source AI to expand cyberattacks

Huo Xing Finance reports, according to Bloomberg, that the Taiwanese research firm TeamT5 stated that cyberattack groups linked to China have significantly increased their attack scale after incorporating DeepSeek and other open-source AI models into their operations. Since beginning to delegate routine tasks to AI and using it to develop more advanced malware, the number of attacks carried out by these groups has more than doubled. Researchers noted that it is not always possible to accurately identify the specific AI models used by attackers, but DeepSeek-related products are popular among Chinese hackers due to their high performance and ease of customization. The report indicates that experienced attackers are leveraging relatively limited AI tools to scale up operations and achieve breakthroughs, highlighting the capability of threat actors to use basic AI tools to target overseas entities.