The AI-Cybersecurity Showdown in India: Trends, Risks and Solutions

Srivathsa Dhanvantri
Aug 24
2 min read

Overview: Why AI in Cybersecurity Matters in India Today

In 2025, India has emerged as a prime target for AI-powered cyberattacks. According to Trend Micro’s Cyber Risk Report, the country ranks 2nd globally in email threats—accounting for 6.9% of the world’s attacks—and 3rd in malware detections, with 19.3 million incidents recorded in 2024Trend Micro. This surge underscores how AI is reshaping both the offensive and defensive sides of cybersecurity.

A visionary depiction of India's AI-driven cybersecurity landscape, highlighting the futuristic confrontation between human expertise and advanced robotic technology against the backdrop of a modern cityscape.

The Dual Threat: AI Weapons vs. AI Shields

How Attackers Harness AI

Cybercriminals are leveraging generative AI to automate sophisticated phishing campaigns, deepfake scams, and adaptive malware that evolves to avoid detection ETTelecom.comquickheal.co.in.
Acronis reports India leads globally in AI-fueled ransomware and phishing, especially via email and collaboration toolsThe Times of India.
This "good AI vs. bad AI" battle is shaping the cybersecurity landscape, making traditional defenses obsoleteTechRadar.

How Defenders Leverage AI

AI-enhanced tools like EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response) and SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) offer real-time anomaly detection and rapid incident response quickheal.co .in Entrepreneur.
The government's training of specialized “cyber commandos” on AI threats—like deepfakes and automated phishing—is ramping up national resilienceThe Times of India.
Notably, Indian cybersecurity firm Zero Defend Security launched Vastav.AI, the country’s first deepfake detection system, achieving 99% accuracy in identifying AI-generated mediaWikipedia+1.

Why This Is Critical for India

With India contributing nearly 24% of Asia’s email threats and 77.7% of ransomware in Southern Asia, the urgency for robust AI-driven defenses is clearTrend Micro.
The escalating risk spans across vital sectors—banking, government, and financial services remain the most targetedTrend Micro.
As AI threats evolve globally, India’s response will be watched—and emulated—on the world stage.

AI as a weapon vs. AI as a shield.

┌────────────────────────┐      ┌───────────────────────────┐
│  AI-Driven Threats     │      │  AI-Powered Defenses      │
│ ─ Phishing automation  │      │ ─ EDR / SOAR systems      │
│ ─ Deepfakes, scams     │──→   │ ─ Cyber commando training │
│ ─ Adaptive malware     │      │ ─ Vastav.AI deepfake tool │
└────────────────────────┘      └───────────────────────────┘

“Imagine receiving an email that sounds exactly like your boss—how would you know it’s not AI-generated?”
These threats impact everyday Indians—whether a student, entrepreneur, or government official, nobody is immune.

Weighing Risks and Solutions

Risks:

AI enables attackers to scale attacks, making detection harder.
Deepfakes erode trust in information, putting individuals and institutions at risk.

Solutions:

Deploy AI-augmented cybersecurity systems for real-time threat management.
Invest in human + AI synergy—skilled professionals trained on cutting-edge threats Deloitte Insights The Times of India.
Develop local innovation such as Vastav.AI and integrate into broader defense strategies.

Conclusion:

AI is the new frontier in cybersecurity—offering both peril and protection. India stands at a crossroads. With devastating AI-powered threats on the rise, the nation's bold steps—like cyber commando training and deepfake detection technology—highlight a proactive, balanced approach.

Your Voice Matters

What worries you more—the rise of AI-enabled scams, or worries about AI privacy and ethics? Let us know in the comments!