AI reshapes cyber threats as Safer Internet Day nears

Cybersecurity specialists warn that advances in AI and a shift toward network-based intrusions are reshaping online risk as governments, businesses, and educators mark Safer Internet Day 2026.

Executives from Ping Identity, Cloudflare, KnowBe4, and WatchGuard Technologies say organisations face mounting pressure to overhaul identity, network, and user-awareness controls as AI transforms both legitimate services and criminal activity.

AI agents

Alex Laurie, Go-To-Market CTO at Ping Identity, said conventional security models no longer match AI in production.

"The conversation this Safer Internet Day must evolve to reflect a new reality: AI agents are no longer just tools; they're autonomous actors operating at machine speed across the digital ecosystem. While AI agents unlock powerful efficiencies, they also introduce new security risks by acting like users, making decisions and accessing systems in ways that are hard to distinguish from human behaviour. When left ungoverned, these agents can be exploited or behave unpredictably, expanding the attack surface and undermining trust."

"Combating this risk requires a shift toward verified trust, where every digital interaction is continuously validated, not assumed. Organisations must move beyond static credentials and adopt identity-first security models that verify who-and what-is accessing systems, in what context and with what intent. By combining strong identity verification, real-time risk assessment and adaptive access controls, businesses can enable AI innovation while protecting users, data and trust in an increasingly agentic internet."

Laurie's remarks reflect a wider push toward continuous authentication and closer monitoring of machine-based interactions, as AI agents increasingly initiate transactions, access data stores, and interface with core systems.

Dual-use AI

Cloudflare's Pat Breen highlighted AI's dual impact: boosting productivity while amplifying cybercrime.

"On Safer Internet Day, it's worth recognising a simple reality: AI is reshaping the internet in two directions at once. The same tools accelerating productivity and innovation are also industrialising cybercrime-making attacks faster to launch, cheaper to run and harder to spot."

Breen cited Australian data: in 2024-25, the Australian Signals Directorate responded to over 1,200 cyber incidents, with DoS/DDoS attacks up more than 280%. He warned that internet disruptions immediately affect banking, healthcare, education, transport, and government services.

"AI will make the internet both safer and riskier. What determines the outcome is how quickly we modernise our cyber defences to stay ahead," he said.

Digital mindfulness

Erich Kron from KnowBe4 urged individuals to adopt "digital mindfulness" amid AI-generated content and deepfakes.

"With AI now a permanent fixture in the lives of children and young people, the ability to distinguish between authentic and AI-generated content is no longer just a technical skill-it is a core life skill. KnowBe4 is urging people to move beyond passive consumption and take an active, mindful role in their online safety."

He provided practical guidance: treat AI outputs with healthy scepticism, verify before sharing, guard personal data, practise digital mindfulness, patch software regularly, use phishing-resistant MFA, and create long, memorable passphrases.

Network attacks

Anthony Daniel of WatchGuard Technologies said attackers are increasingly targeting networks rather than relying on malware.

"WatchGuard's Q4 2025 Threat Landscape data shows Australian businesses now face more network attacks than traditional malware. In the last quarter alone, WatchGuard blocked 96,049 network attacks, compared with 8,510 malware attacks… The rise in network probing and exploitation reinforces the need for a Zero Trust approach… By tightening access controls and validating every connection, organisations can significantly reduce the impact of breaches, even when attackers gain a foothold."

"Safer Internet Day is a reminder that security is not a quick fix, but a shared responsibility. By embedding safe practices into daily routines, we can collectively make the internet safer for individuals and businesses alike."