Chapter 14: Emerging Topics (2025–2026 Relevance)

Emerging Topics (2025–2026 Relevance).

We’re wrapping up the foundational tutorial with the stuff that’s exploding right now in January 2026 (3:49 PM IST here in Airoli, Maharashtra—perfect timing for some serious forward-thinking chai-fueled discussion ☕). These aren’t “future” topics anymore; they’re live, board-level priorities for Indian companies (fintech, manufacturing, healthcare, government portals), CERT-In responders, and global players under pressure from DPDP Act enforcement (notified Nov 2025, phased rollout through 2026–2027).

We’ll dive deep into each sub-topic with real-world examples, trends from late 2025/early 2026 reports (e.g., Palo Alto, Nozomi, Cyble, NIST updates, Recorded Future), analogies, and practical takeaways for someone in India right now.

1. AI/ML in Cybersecurity (Both Defensive and Offensive Uses)

AI is the biggest double-edged sword in cyber right now—2026 is truly the year of the AI cyber arms race. Attackers and defenders are both supercharged, but attackers often move faster because they don’t have compliance boards slowing them down.

Defensive Uses (Blue Team Wins):

• AI-powered detection & response: Behavioral analytics spot anomalies (e.g., unusual encryption spikes = ransomware) faster than signatures. Tools like Microsoft Defender, CrowdStrike, SentinelOne use ML for zero-day detection, reducing MTTD/MTTR to minutes.
• Predictive threat modeling: AI simulates attack paths (e.g., Wiz/Orca CSPM uses AI to map misconfig → exfil risk).
• Automated remediation: SOAR + AI auto-isolates endpoints, patches vulns.
• Phishing/deepfake defense: ML analyzes voice/video for fakes, blocks AI-generated emails (grammar-perfect but behavioral odd). 2026 trend: Agentic AI (autonomous agents) for defense—self-healing networks, proactive hunting. OpenAI/Microsoft emphasize defensive tools (code auditing, vuln patching).

Offensive Uses (Red Team / Criminal Wins):

• AI-generated phishing/deepfakes: 2025 saw 80%+ AI phishing; 2026 sees autonomous agents crafting personalized campaigns (e.g., deepfake CEO video call tricking finance to transfer crores).
• Adaptive malware: AI malware mutates in real-time (adjusts to EDR detection), evades sandboxes.
• Automated attacks: Recon → exploit → lateral movement done by AI agents (dark-web “cybercrime prompt playbooks” sold cheap).
• AI vs AI: Attackers poison defensive ML models (adversarial examples). 2026 reality: Commercialized AI crime (RaaS + AI tools), state actors (China/Russia) using AI for espionage. Palo Alto predicts majority of advanced attacks AI-driven by 2026.

India example: UPI fraud via AI voice cloning (“beta, urgent paise bhej”) surged 2025–2026; banks use AI fraud detection but attackers use AI to beat it.

Takeaway: Adopt AI defensively (EDR/XDR with ML), but govern it (no shadow AI tools). Train on spotting AI fakes.

2. IoT and OT Security

IoT/OT (Operational Technology—SCADA, PLCs, industrial controls) is exploding—40B+ devices projected 2026—but security lags badly. Attacks cause physical harm (factory shutdowns, hospital disruptions).

Key Threats 2025–2026:

• Botnets & DDoS: 820K+ daily IoT attacks (cheap cameras/routers with default creds). Mirai successors + new botnets (e.g., Mantis) recruit devices for massive DDoS.
• Ransomware in OT: 46% rise; targets manufacturing (26% incidents), energy, transport. Data manipulation (tamper sensor readings) 3x more common than encryption.
• Exploits on legacy/unpatched devices: Exposed RDP/SSH/Telnet, old vulns (e.g., CVE in industrial gear).
• IT/OT convergence risks: IoT pivot to OT (e.g., compromised camera → factory PLC).
• IoMT (medical): High vuln growth; life-safety risk.

Trends:

• Nozomi: Brute-force SSH/Telnet still top entry; default creds everywhere.
• EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) phases in 2026–2027 → secure-by-design mandatory for IoT.
• India: Smart cities (Airoli/Navi Mumbai projects), manufacturing (Make in India) → huge attack surface.

Defenses:

• Network segmentation (micro-segment OT zones).
• Asset discovery (Nozomi, Claroty, Forescout).
• Zero trust for devices (strong creds, MFA where possible).
• Continuous monitoring (anomaly detection in OT traffic).

Example: Ransomware hits Indian manufacturing → encrypts PLCs → halts production. Fix: Air-gapped backups + OT-specific EDR.

Takeaway: Inventory IoT/OT assets now—most orgs don’t even know what’s connected.

3. Ransomware Evolution and Negotiation/Backup Strategies

Ransomware didn’t slow in 2025–2026—7,200+ public victims 2025 (47% up), new groups (57+), but payments down (victims refuse/pay backups improve).

Evolution 2025–2026:

• Pure exfiltration (no encryption): Steal data → threaten leak/DDoS. Quieter, harder to detect (blends with normal traffic).
• Triple/quadruple extortion: Encrypt + steal + leak + DDoS family + insider recruitment.
• AI boost: Faster recon, adaptive malware.
• RaaS globalization: More non-Russian actors.
• Targeted sectors: Manufacturing, healthcare, critical infra.

Negotiation Strategies:

• Many refuse (payments down).
• If pay: Use pros (crisis negotiators), coordinate with law enforcement (FBI/Interpol).
• Avoid paying if backups clean—fuels crime.

Backup Strategies (2026 Must-Haves):

• Immutable backups (can’t be altered—AWS S3 Object Lock, Azure immutability).
• Air-gapped/offline (tape, isolated vaults).
• Tested regularly (restore drills).
• 3-2-1-1-0 rule: 3 copies, 2 media, 1 offsite, 1 immutable/air-gapped, 0 errors.
• Cleanroom recovery (isolated rebuild).

India example: Akira hits hospital → encrypts + leaks patient data. Good backups → quick recovery without payment.

Takeaway: Don’t negotiate alone—backups are your best defense.

4. Quantum Computing Threats to Cryptography

Harvest Now, Decrypt Later (HNDL) is live—steal encrypted data today, crack later.

Threat:

• Shor’s algorithm breaks RSA/ECC (public-key).
• Grover weakens symmetric (use AES-256).
• 2026 progress: Fault-tolerant demos closer; “Q-day” estimates 2030s but accelerated.

Post-Quantum Progress:

• NIST finalized standards (ML-KEM/Kyber, ML-DSA/Dilithium, etc.).
• Hybrid crypto (classic + PQC) rolling out (TLS hybrids).
• Crypto-agility (easy swap algos).
• Mandates: NSA CNSA 2.0 (PQC by 2025–2026 for some NSS).

India context: DPDP requires strong encryption—start migrating sensitive data (Aadhaar-linked, banking).

Example: Bank uses RSA-2048 TLS → quantum breaks it later → migrate to hybrid Kyber + ECC.

Takeaway: Inventory crypto usage now—start hybrids 2026.

5. Privacy Regulations (GDPR, DPDP Act, CCPA Updates)

DPDP Act (India 2023 + Rules 2025):

• Notified Nov 13, 2025 → phased enforcement (DP Board now, consent managers 2026).
• Consent primary, verifiable for children, breach reporting tight.
• Significant Data Fiduciaries extra duties (DPO, audits).
• Penalties up to ₹250 crore.
• Aligns somewhat with GDPR but consent-heavy, no legitimate interests.

GDPR (EU): Stable but 2025–2026 sees AI Act overlap, digital omnibus proposals (simplify notices, breach rules).

CCPA/CPRA (California): Updates focus on AI data use, dark patterns, 2026 enforcement on sensitive data opt-outs.

Global trend: Convergence—strong rights, breach duties, AI governance.

India example: Fintech under DPDP → map data flows, get explicit consent, prepare breach reports.

Takeaway: DPDP rollout 2026—start compliance now (notice, consent, DPO if significant).