Mexico sees 38% rise in ransomware attacks on businesses, AI use up 90%

Ransomware attacks on Mexican companies increased by 38% over the past year, and the use of artificial intelligence in these attacks grew almost 90%, according to the University of Advanced Technologies (UNIAT). The sector reports an average recovery cost of $1.35 million per incident, with 70% of ransom demands exceeding $1 million. Analysts estimate that six out of ten firms hit by such attacks cease operations within six months.

Human error accounts for about 67% of successful breaches, including opening malicious emails, using weak passwords, and downloading unverified files. Mexico faces a shortage of more than 77,000 qualified cybersecurity professionals, and only 27% of companies say they have specialized protection services. Around 68% of industrial employers report difficulty hiring talent in cybersecurity, AI, and data analytics.

FortiGuard Labs’ 2026 Threat Landscape Report recorded 843.3 billion attack attempts in Latin America in 2025, with Brazil the most affected region, followed by Mexico and Colombia.