AI Ransomware Alert: PromptLock’s Comedic Debut as a ‘Proof-of-Concept’ Menace!
PromptLock, the world’s first AI-powered ransomware, uses Lua scripts to wreak havoc on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. While its encryption skills are questionable, this proof-of-concept malware shows AI’s potential in cybercrime. Just think of it as a tech-savvy burglar who can’t quite figure out how to pick the lock.

Hot Take:
Cybercriminals have taken a page out of Hollywood’s book: “If it ain’t broke, make it AI-powered!” PromptLock is like the James Bond of ransomware, suave yet unrefined, and for now, it’s more of a Q lab experiment than a real-world threat. But it’s a sobering reminder that when AI meets malware, even the bots can have a bad day!
Key Points:
– PromptLock is the first AI-powered ransomware discovered, using Lua scripts to steal and encrypt data.
– The malware employs OpenAI’s gpt-oss:20b model via the Ollama API for script generation.
– It uses the SPECK 128-bit algorithm for encryption, more suited for RFID than ransomware.
– Currently, PromptLock is considered a proof-of-concept rather than an active threat.
– Its discovery highlights the potential for AI to be weaponized in cybercrime, offering cross-platform and operational flexibility.