How to update your privacy tools to fight AI-powered cyber threats

AI is often described as a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it helps defend networks and detect fraud. On the other, it gives attackers cheap, scalable tools to break into accounts, impersonate people, and steal data. If your privacy tools haven’t been touched in a while, now is the time to reconsider them.

This article covers what has changed in the threat landscape, why ordinary users are affected, and which tools you should update—along with how to do it.

What happened

In June 2026, the World Economic Forum published a guide on updating data privacy tools to reduce cybersecurity risk in the AI era. The article notes that AI is accelerating cybercrime by exposing flaws in systems that were previously harder to exploit. Another WEF piece, “AI speeds cybercrime by exposing flaws,” confirms that attackers are using generative AI to write convincing phishing emails, clone voices, and automate password guessing.

Earlier in 2026, the WEF also highlighted “3 trends redefining cyber risk in 2026,” pointing out that AI-generated deepfakes and synthetic identities are becoming routine in social engineering attacks. And in April, Anthropic published its “Mythos moment” analysis, arguing that frontier AI models are forcing a rethink of what cybersecurity even means.

The picture is clear: AI is not a future risk; it is already reshaping how everyday cyberattacks work.

Why it matters for everyday users

You might think AI-driven attacks target only large companies or governments, but that is not the case. Many of these attacks are automated and sprayed across millions of email addresses, phone numbers, and social media accounts. The same AI that writes a plausible email can also customise it based on data leaked from a breach.

If your privacy tools are set up to defend against yesterday’s threats, they may not catch AI-generated phishing messages that have no obvious typos, or a phone call that sounds like your boss asking for a password reset. Passwords that were once considered “strong” can now be cracked faster by AI-powered guessing tools. And traditional antivirus software may not flag a deepfake video used to trick you into transferring money.

Updating your tools and habits is no longer optional. It is a necessary step to keep your personal data reasonably safe.

What readers can do: a practical update checklist

Below are the main categories of privacy and security tools that need attention. Pick one or two this weekend, and you will be better off than most.

1. Password managers

AI increases the speed of brute-force and dictionary attacks. Reusing passwords anywhere is now riskier because a leak of one service can be exploited across many accounts. A password manager remains the single best defence, but only if you use it correctly.

• Update your master password to a long passphrase (e.g., four random words, at least 20 characters). Do not reuse that phrase anywhere else.
• Enable two-factor authentication on your password manager account itself.
• Generate unique, random passwords for every site. Most managers now offer a “security check” feature—run it and fix weak or reused passwords.
• If your manager supports passkeys, consider using them for supported sites. Passkeys resist phishing better than passwords.

2. Two-factor authentication (2FA / MFA)

AI has made SMS-based 2FA less reliable because attackers can use social engineering to convince a mobile carrier to swap your SIM. Wherever possible, switch to app-based authenticators (like Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator) or hardware security keys (YubiKey, Google Titan). These are far harder to phish.

• Set up at least two backup methods (e.g., an authenticator app plus recovery codes stored offline). Losing access to your 2FA device can lock you out permanently.
• If a service offers “passkeys” or “FIDO2,” enable that instead of SMS codes.

3. Antivirus and endpoint protection

Traditional antivirus scans for known signatures. AI-generated malware can mutate faster than signature updates. Modern endpoint protection uses behavioural detection and machine learning to spot suspicious activity even if the file is brand new.

• Check that your antivirus software is not just running, but that it includes real-time behaviour monitoring. Features like “ransomware protection” and “web protection” matter.
• If you use free antivirus, ensure it is actively updated. Windows Defender (now called Microsoft Defender) is decent if kept current, but consider supplementing it with a dedicated privacy extension.

4. Browsers and privacy extensions

Your browser is the gateway to most threats. AI-generated phishing pages look near-identical to real login pages. Relying on your eyes is no longer enough.

• Use a browser that blocks known trackers and malicious sites by default (e.g., Firefox with enhanced tracking protection, or Brave).
• Install uBlock Origin or an equivalent content blocker. This not only stops ads but also blocks known malware domains.
• Consider using a dedicated phishing protection tool like Bitdefender TrafficLight or similar. Many password managers also offer phishing alerts.

5. Virtual private networks (VPNs)

A VPN does not make you anonymous, but it helps protect your traffic on public Wi-Fi and hides your IP address from casual snooping. AI can help attackers analyse traffic patterns, so a good VPN with strong encryption (WireGuard or OpenVPN) and a no-logs policy is still worth having.

• Review your VPN provider: do they have a published, audited no-logs policy? Are they based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction? Services like Mullvad, ProtonVPN, and IVPN are well-regarded.
• Ensure the VPN app is kept updated to avoid known vulnerabilities.
• Use the VPN only when needed (public Wi-Fi, travel, bypassing throttling). Leaving it on all the time can slow your connection and break some services.

6. Review app permissions and data sharing

AI models are trained on huge datasets, often scraped from public sources or even from apps that share user data. Every app you have given permission to access your contacts, camera, microphone, or location is a potential data source.

• Go through your phone’s app permissions (Settings > Apps > Permissions on both Android and iOS). Revoke permissions that are not essential.
• Delete apps you no longer use. They may still be collecting data.
• For social media platforms, check privacy settings regularly. Turn off “improve AI” options if you do not want your data used for model training. This is often buried in settings.

7. Regular software updates

It sounds basic, but AI-driven attacks often target known vulnerabilities that have already been patched. Attackers use AI to quickly scan for unpatched systems.

• Enable automatic updates on your operating system, browser, and all major apps.
• Pay special attention to firmware updates for routers and smart home devices, as these are frequently overlooked.

8. Learn to spot AI-generated scams

Technology alone cannot protect you. AI-generated text, voice, and video are getting harder to recognise, but some red flags remain:

• Urgent requests that ask you to act immediately.
• Unusual requests to send money, gift cards, or credentials.
• Messages that ask you to “verify” details via a link or call a specific number.
• Voice calls from a known contact that sound subtly off—hang up and call them back on a known number.

When in doubt, do not click or respond. Contact the person or organisation through a different channel.

Sources

• World Economic Forum. “How to update data privacy tools to cut cybersecurity risk in the AI era.” June 15, 2026.
• World Economic Forum. “AI speeds cybercrime by exposing flaws, and other cybersecurity news.” June 15, 2026.
• World Economic Forum. “3 trends redefining cyber risk in 2026.” January 12, 2026.
• World Economic Forum. “Anthropic’s Mythos moment: How frontier AI is redefining cybersecurity.” April 20, 2026.

The above articles are publicly available on the World Economic Forum’s website. Exact URLs were accessed via Google News RSS feeds on June 21, 2026, but links may have changed.

Updating your privacy tools is not a one-time job. Set a calendar reminder every six months to review this checklist. AI will keep evolving, and so will the attacks. The goal is not perfect security—that does not exist—but reducing your risk to a level where you can go online without constant worry.