In 2026, Hackers Want AI: Threat Intel on Vibe Hacking & HackGPT

This report analyzes the rise of “vibe hacking,” where criminals use AI-branded copilots and jailbreaking methods to bypass safeguards and automate traditional crimes (phishing, fraud, account takeovers), lowering skill barriers and increasing attack volume and polish. It highlights how underground markets repackage old services with AI hype to attract first-time or low-skill actors, shifting psychology from mastery to confidence-driven execution. While not introducing novel attack classes, the trend expands victim reach and normalizes reckless automation; the vendor (Flare) promotes monitoring dark web and messaging platforms to detect AI-abuse signals early for proactive defense.