Cyber conflict is no longer lurking quietly in the background of geopolitical crises — it is moving closer to the center of the battlefield.
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As tensions rise across several regions, cyberattacks are escalating in parallel, targeting telecom networks, infrastructure systems and energy assets.
According to exclusive insights shared with Benzinga over email by Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:CHKP), artificial intelligence is now accelerating both the scale and sophistication of these digital confrontations.
Sergey Shykevich, Threat Intelligence group manager at Check Point, said cyber operations are increasingly intertwined with geopolitical events. In some cases, digital activity begins even before physical escalation occurs.
“Cyber activity is often closely tied to geopolitical conflict,” Shykevich told Benzinga. State-linked actors frequently deploy destructive tools during periods of tension, turning cyberspace into an extension of real-world strategy.
AI Is Accelerating Cyber Conflict
Artificial intelligence is now reshaping the cyber battlefield — and not just for defenders. According to Shykevich, AI is helping attackers automate operations and scale attacks faster than traditional methods allowed.
“AI is amplifying both sides of cyber warfare,” he said. Attackers are using it “to automate, craft more convincing attacks, and scale operations faster,” while security teams are deploying AI to analyze vast data streams, detect threats earlier and respond in real time.
The result is a rapidly intensifying arms race where both attackers and defenders are deploying increasingly sophisticated tools.
Critical Infrastructure In The Crosshairs
Shykevich said state-backed cyber groups are increasingly targeting sectors capable of causing widespread disruption.
Telecommunications networks and critical infrastructure remain among the most attractive targets. Within that category, energy systems and utilities are especially vulnerable because disruptions can ripple quickly through economies.
Looking ahead, Shykevich warned the most destabilizing cyber incidents are likely to involve attacks on financial systems or infrastructure capable of disrupting everyday life.
“The most concerning attacks target financial systems and critical infrastructure,” he said, where destructive operations could halt essential services and trigger broader global responses.
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