Digital Parasite: The Evolution of Ransomware and its Impact on Residency

Cybersecurity experts have long focused on ransomware and encryption as the primary indicators of modern cyberattacks. However, a new report from Picus Labs suggests that attackers are shifting their tactics towards long-term, stealthy access rather than disruptive attacks.

The report, titled Red Report 2026, analyzed over 1.1 million malicious files and 15.5 million adversarial actions observed in 2025. It reveals a strategic pivot away from loud, destructive attacks towards techniques designed to evade detection and exploit trusted infrastructure. Attackers are now behaving more like Digital Parasites, living inside systems, harvesting credentials, and remaining undetected for extended periods.

While ransomware is still a threat, the data shows a decline in Data Encrypted for Impact (T1486) attacks, signaling a shift towards data extortion as the primary monetization model. Attackers are now focusing on quietly exfiltrating data, harvesting credentials, and maintaining access within systems for as long as possible.

Credential theft has become a prevalent behavior, with Credentials from Password Stores (T1555) appearing in nearly one-fourth of attacks. Attackers are extracting credentials directly from browsers and password managers to facilitate privilege escalation and lateral movement.

The MITRE ATT&CK framework also reflects this trend, with eight of the top ten techniques prioritizing evasion, persistence, and stealth. Techniques like Process Injection and Boot or Logon Autostart Execution enable attackers to hide their malicious activities within trusted system processes and ensure persistence across reboots.

Modern malware is becoming increasingly self-aware, evading detection by evaluating execution context and user interaction to determine if they are operating in a real environment. This behavior, exemplified by techniques like Virtualization and Sandbox Evasion, allows malware to remain dormant until it reaches a production system.

Despite speculation about the role of artificial intelligence in reshaping the malware landscape, the report shows that attackers are not heavily relying on AI-driven techniques. Instead, they continue to prioritize traditional methods like credential theft and stealthy persistence.

In light of these evolving threats, organizations are advised to focus on modern security fundamentals, behavior-based detection, and continuous Adversarial Exposure Validation. By understanding and mitigating the risks posed by silent, persistent compromise, companies can better defend against modern adversaries.

To explore the full data behind the Digital Parasite model and learn more about the evolving threat landscape, download the Picus Red Report 2026. This report provides valuable insights into how attackers are adapting their tactics to remain undetected within networks for extended periods.

Please note that this rewritten article was based on the original content written by Sıla Özeren Hacıoğlu, Security Research Engineer at Picus Security.