In 2026, virtual assistants and language models help us write e-mails, schedule meetings or generate code. However, this efficiency comes with a new risk: attackers exploiting AI to extract confidential information from the company. At Altanet Craiova we have identified situations in which employees, wanting to be faster, entered sensitive data into public AI platforms, unwittingly giving hackers access to company secrets.
The OWASP GenAI Top 10 report stresses that the vulnerabilities of smart assistants are no longer just theoretical. From the injection of hidden commands to data leakage through model training, your digital assistant can become the biggest vulnerability in your system.
How can a smart assistant be manipulated?
Attackers use sophisticated techniques such as "Prompt Injection". This involves sending disguised instructions to your AI that trick it into ignoring its safety rules. Once manipulated, the assistant can extract passwords, bank details or business plans that it previously learned from legitimate users.
Think of a virtual assistant that has access to the team's calendar and e-mails. If an attacker sends it a specially worded message, the AI might automatically send the attacker the entire contact list or the details of a confidential meeting. The problem is not the technology itself, but the way we interact with it and the blind trust we place in automated processes.
The major risks of using AI in business
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence has opened new doors for digital crime:
- Data leakage through training: Information entered into public chats can be used to train future versions of the model, becoming accessible to other users.
- Instruction injection (Prompt Injection): Tricking the AI into executing malicious commands through seemingly harmless messages.
- Generation of vulnerable code: Programmers who use AI to write code may receive solutions containing hidden security holes, deliberately planted by attackers in the datasets.
- Reliance on false answers (Hallucinations): AI can generate erroneous information which, if followed, can lead to wrong security decisions.
How can you use AI without putting your company at risk?
To benefit safely from the power of artificial intelligence, Altanet Craiova suggests a set of best practices:
- Use Enterprise versions: Choose platforms that guarantee your data is not used to train public models.
- Staff training: Teach employees never to enter customer names, passwords or proprietary source code into chat windows.
- Output validation: Never run AI-generated code without it first being checked by a human specialist.
- Clear usage policies: Set strict rules on which types of data may be processed through artificial intelligence tools.
Conclusion
Artificial intelligence is without doubt the biggest revolution of the decade, but it comes with matching responsibilities. In 2026, your smart assistant must be a protected partner, not an open door into your company. The balance between productivity and safety will define the digital success of every modern company.
If you want to implement AI tools in your company in a controlled and safe way, the Altanet Craiova team is ready to guide you. Together we can set up a set of rules and technical solutions that protect your data without sacrificing innovation (contact Altanet).
This article is part of the Altanet series on cyber threats in 2026. Next article: Living off the Land: Attacks without traditional viruses. See also the complete guide to the series.