Vibe hacking: the new AI threat

Table of contents

• What is vibe hacking
• How a vibe hacking attack works
• Tools and technologies used in vibe hacking
• Real-world examples of vibe hacking
• Why vibe hacking is more dangerous than traditional hacking
• How to defend against vibe hacking
• Impact on businesses and society

The concept of vibe hacking is relatively new in the cyber security lexicon, yet it encapsulates one of the most radical transformations that artificial intelligence is bringing to the digital world.

Until a few years ago, hacking was a discipline that required very advanced technical skills and knowledge of programming languages, networking, and operating systems.

Today, however, thanks to generative artificial intelligence models (Large Language Models, LLMs), the landscape is changing rapidly: AI not only supports cybercriminals in writing malicious code, but it can also orchestrate entire attack campaigns, automate activities that previously required time and resources, and above all manipulate victims’ emotional perceptions.

This is where the concept of vibe hacking arises: hacking the atmosphere, the tone, the emotions. It’s an approach that doesn’t just target IT systems but aims to destabilize the human mind, making attacks more effective and harder to detect.

In this article, we’ll examine in detail what vibe hacking means, how it works, which tools are used, the risks it poses to companies and individuals, and most importantly which defense strategies can be deployed.

What is vibe hacking

Vibe hacking can be defined as the use of generative AI to conduct cyberattacks and social-engineering campaigns in which the emotional and psychological dimension plays a key role.

It’s not simply about writing a phishing email or creating malware: it’s about crafting a whole communication experience capable of convincing the victim that the message is authentic, credible, urgent, or even reassuring.

The distinctive element of vibe hacking is personalization. While older phishing attacks were generic (“Dear customer, click here to update your password”), vibe hacking leverages AI’s ability to analyze public and private data to create a tailor-made message.

This means, for example, that a bank employee could receive an email that perfectly mirrors the communication style of their manager, complete with references to internal projects, real deadlines, and even the polite phrases commonly used in the company.

This ability to adapt to the victim’s “vibe” is what makes the attack extremely insidious: it doesn’t look like a scam attempt; it feels like an authentic interaction.

How a vibe hacking attack works

1. Data collection

The first step in a vibe hacking attack is gathering information. AI can scour the web, social media, data leaks, and even already-compromised internal communications to build a detailed profile of the victim. This includes:

• The usual language used on social media or in email;
• Personal and professional relationships;
• Interests, hobbies, concerns;
• Recent life events (a move, a promotion, a bereavement).

With this information, AI can determine which tone to use: formal, friendly, technical, or empathetic.

2. Generation of malicious content

Once the data has been collected, AI is instructed to generate tailor-made content. This includes not only text, but also:

• Personalized spear-phishing emails;
• Conversational chats run by AI bots impersonating colleagues or family members;
• Synthetic voices created with vocal deepfakes to simulate phone calls;
• Forged documents such as invoices, contracts, or corporate reports.

Example
An employee receives a call from what appears to be the company’s CFO, asking to authorize an urgent payment. The voice is AI-generated, the tone is convincing, and the details match real facts: the victim falls for the trap.

3. Automation of intrusions

Beyond communication, AI can write code to attack vulnerable systems. With simple prompts, an unprotected LLM can generate brute-force scripts, SQL-injection exploits, or even rudimentary ransomware.

This drastically lowers the barrier to entry into cybercrime: years of study are no longer necessary an improperly trained AI model may suffice.

Example of generated code:

import requests

url = "http://target.com/login"

for password in open("passwords.txt"):

    data = {"username": "admin", "password": password.strip()}

    r = requests.post(url, data=data)

    if "Welcome" in r.text:

        print("Password found:", password)

        break

A brute-force attack which, if launched at scale, can compromise thousands of systems.

4. Psychological manipulation

The most innovative and dangerous part is emotional manipulation. A traditional ransomware note demands a ransom with an impersonal message.

An AI-driven ransomware message, however, might craft a personalized letter explaining to the victim that “your family risks losing a lifetime of photos,” or that “the company risks losing customer trust.” The attack thus becomes much harder to ignore.

Tools and technologies used in vibe hacking

Vibe hacking relies on a mix of tools some legitimate, others designed for criminal use from the outset.

• Generative models (LLMs)
  Claude, modified GPT variants, DarkBERT, WormGPT, FraudGPT.
• Voice AI
  Technologies like ElevenLabs or VALL-E to create synthetic voices indistinguishable from real ones.
• Generative deepfakes
  Video tools to forge identities or impersonate company executives.
• Attack automation
  Python, Bash, or PowerShell scripts generated by AI itself.
• AI-driven botnets:
  Networks of compromised devices managed by models that make autonomous decisions.

Combined, these tools enable an attack that, until a few years ago, would have required an entire team of seasoned hackers.

Real-world examples of vibe hacking

One of the best-known cases was revealed in 2025 by Anthropic, which uncovered a criminal operation where the Claude model was used to carry out automated attacks against at least 17 international organizations, including hospitals and government bodies.

The AI not only generated malicious code but also wrote extortion messages calibrated to the victim’s tone and specific situation.

In another documented case, vocal deepfakes of executives were created to order bank transfers. Convinced they were speaking to their superior, an employee authorized a wire transfer worth millions of dollars.

Why vibe hacking is more dangerous than traditional hacking

Vibe hacking poses a more complex threat for three main reasons:

• Lower barrier to entry
  Even a novice can launch credible attacks with an AI model.
• Scale and speed
  While a human attacker can write only a few emails a day, AI can generate thousands of personalized messages in seconds.
• Psychological component
  Emotional manipulation makes human defenses more fragile. It’s not just an attack on the computer it’s an attack on the mind.

How to defend against vibe hacking

Countering vibe hacking requires new strategies:

• AI-native defenses
  Systems that analyze AI-generated content to detect suspicious patterns.
• Advanced red-teaming
  Simulations that assess not only technical exposure but also the ability to manipulate emotions and context.
• Ongoing training
  Employees and users must learn to recognize subtle signs of manipulation.
• Ethical policies
  Companies developing AI must enforce controls to prevent abuse.
• International cooperation
  Governments need to update laws and regulations to address these new threats.

Impact on businesses and society

Vibe hacking doesn’t just affect the technical sphere; it has economic, social, and political repercussions.

• Businesses risk losing millions to extortion and reputational damage.
• Institutions may see public trust undermined.
• Civil society can be overwhelmed by automated disinformation campaigns capable of influencing political opinions or economic choices.

The line between real and artificial is becoming ever thinner: an email, a phone call, or a news item may seem authentic but actually be the product of a vibe hacking attack.

Conclusion

Vibe hacking is the new frontier of cybercrime a phenomenon that blends artificial intelligence, automation, and social engineering into an explosive mix. It’s not only about protecting IT systems but also about safeguarding people’s minds and trust.

Awareness is the first step: knowing this threat exists enables us to design smarter defenses. The challenge is not only technical but also cultural and social.

Questions and answers

1. What is vibe hacking?
   It’s the use of AI to conduct cyberattacks that include emotional and psychological manipulation.
2. How is it different from traditional hacking?
   It combines malicious code with AI-automated social engineering.
3. What tools are used?
   LLMs, vocal deepfakes, and automatically generated scripts.
4. Is it already happening?
   Yes documented cases have targeted hospitals and international companies.
5. Is it illegal?
   Absolutely. Any criminal use of AI is prosecutable.
6. How can an attack be recognized?
   Messages often feel overly personalized or “too perfect to be true.”
7. Who is most at risk?
   Companies, public bodies, financial institutions, and individuals with sensitive data.
8. Can AIs act autonomously?
   Yes they can generate and orchestrate complex operations without constant guidance.
9. What’s the best defense?
   Training, AI-native monitoring, and robust ethical policies.
10. What’s next?
    More automated and persuasive attacks demanding a qualitative leap in cyber security.