India Ranked Seventh in Global Cyberattack Targets, Warns Microsoft Executive
India has emerged as the seventh most targeted nation in the world for cyberattacks, according to Nicholas Butts, director of AI and cybersecurity policy at Microsoft. Speaking at the NDTV World Summit 2026, Butts emphasized that the threats are immediate and not just potential future risks. He noted that artificial intelligence is already being leveraged by criminals to enhance their ransomware and espionage efforts.
Butts specifically mentioned a ransomware operation known as Storm 3168, also referred to as Jadepuffer, which is based in China and utilizes AI agents to target customers globally. He also pointed out the activities of Russian and Chinese state-sponsored actors who deploy agents for espionage, including a group tracked by Microsoft as Storm 0940.
The executive warned that AI is lowering the barriers for smaller criminal enterprises, making it easier for them to launch attacks. He cited EvilTokens, a tool allegedly created by two individuals using AI coding resources, which has provided access to criminal infrastructure and has impacted over 10,000 organizations across 120 countries. However, he did not specify how many of these organizations are based in India.
Final Assessment
Butts stressed that the threat to India is very real, highlighting Microsoft's extensive security monitoring capabilities, which include screening approximately five billion emails daily. This assessment underscores the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures in the face of evolving threats.
