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A Chinese hacker used AI agents to break into more than 100 company websites - Deere and SharkNinja among websites hit by open-source AI-powered problem-solving platform demo. Published October 19, 2026 Why break into websites yourself when you can task AI bots to do it for you? A Chinese-speaking hacker has been observed using artificial intelligence (AI) agents to probe and then gain unauthorized access to more than 100 websites belonging to some extremely well-known companies. From Deere, the farming equipment manufacturer, to SharkNinja, the company behind beloved kitchen appliances, the agents were able to leverage exposed instances of Carin, an open-source AI-powered problem-solving platform that has proven popular among hackers, a Reuters report explains. This is just the latest example of hackers turning to AI agents in an attempt to level up their attacks on unsuspecting companies and services. Snorre Fagerland, principal threat researcher at the cybersecurity company NorForge, spotted the hacker's antics when observing Carin instances that had been inadvertently exposed. Fagerland was able to watch multiple hackers go about their business, but the Chinese-speaking hacker was the most prolific, the report says. They targeted businesses based in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japanese e-commerce sites. Notably, the hacker didn't get into detail when commanding their legion of AI agents. Fewer than 100 Chinese characters were used, yet the agents had attempted ot break into more than 1,200 different websites as of the week ending October 18, 2026. Latest Videos FromTom's Hardware How to check SSD health in Windows 10 and Windows 11 These agents weren't simply throwing everything at a wall and hoping it stuck, either. Security researcher Fagerland was "impressed" by some of the tactics that had been used. In one case, the AI agents scoured digital records to find infrastructure associated with their target, located a public-facing control panel, identified a weakness, and then leveraged it to force the execution of malicious commands, the Reuters report detailed. "It's not straightforward to come up with solutions like that," Fagerland told Reuters. "It's not script kiddie stuff." Vitally, the approach of using AI agents in this way means that they can be given instructions and then left to their own devices. With no supervision required, those commanding the agents are free to turn their attention elsewhere. While SharkNinja told Reuters that the attack only impacted a site used for product support information, the rest of the AI-aided hackers had more luck. One of the hackers monitored by Gargerland stole credit card data, while another tried to steal from a cryptocurrency exchange - although it isn't clear whether they were successful. Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News, or add ShellSoftware as a preferred source, to get its latest news, analysis, & reviews in your feeds. Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.

AI hackers expose their own operations during corporate intrusions. The control systems directing automated cyberattacks against corporate websites were themselves accessible over the public internet, allowing researchers to observe an operation that reportedly penetrated more than 100 websites and revealing a separate security weakness in AI-powered hacking infrastructure. Cybersecurity researcher Snorre Fagerland of NorForge discovered publicly exposed instances of Cairn, an open-source platform used to coordinate autonomous AI agents, beginning around October 2, according to a Reuters investigation. Fagerland identified approximately two dozen instances associated with malicious activity. Their exposed interfaces allowed him to examine ongoing operations without compromising the attackers' systems. Sponsored · Cambria Gold Mines One Chinese-speaking operator had instructed AI agents to attack more than 1,200 e-commerce websites across the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan, beginning September 25. NorForge reported successful intrusions into more than 100 websites. Reuters independently identified affected websites associated with Deere, SharkNinja, and Cummins. The findings draw attention to the infrastructure managing autonomous cyber operations, rather than only the vulnerabilities exploited by the agents. Cairn coordinates multi-step tasks and maintains records of an agent's progress. When its management interface is publicly accessible, operational information can become visible to third parties. A separate investigation by ReliaQuest documented another attack involving Cairn. Researchers identified an unauthenticated control panel operating on infrastructure used to compromise a server, involving hundreds of commands executed within 24 hours and resulting in the attacker obtaining administrative access. The affected companies described differing consequences when contacted by Reuters. Deere said it had undertaken remediation and found no indication that sensitive information was accessed. SharkNinja said the affected website was a standalone product-support service and that the threat had been contained, while Cummins said it was investigating a possible cyberattack involving a third-party vendor's website. According to NorForge, the operator's agents typically required approximately 23 hours to complete a successful intrusion. Fagerland estimated total AI usage at roughly $5,000, equivalent to approximately $50 per successful compromise. AI-assisted hacking was already documented before the latest disclosure. In September, Gambit Security reported a separate campaign involving at least 27 compromised companies and more than 600,000 stolen payment-card records. Information for this briefing was found via the sources and the companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.

Ninja's brand-new Crispi air fryer is already on sale less than a month after launch - but not for long. Fashion & Beauty Writer Published 7th Oct 2026, 15:31 BST This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. Ninja's latest DualZone air fryer only launched in September, but Amazon has already reduced the new model to £249.99 as part of Prime Big Deal Days. Ninja has only just launched its latest air fryer in the UK, but the brand-new Ninja CRISPi Dual Zone is already £50 off as part of Amazon Prime Big Deal Days. The new air fryer was released on September 9, making the £249.99 deal price particularly notable less than a month after its launch. It has an RRP of £299.99, meaning shoppers can currently save £50 on the stone gold version during Amazon's limited-time sale. The Ninja CRISPi Dual Zone is the first DualZone air fryer in the UK to feature Ninja's CleanCrisp glassware, giving it a noticeably different design from the usual air fryers. It has two independent 3.8-litre glass cooking containers, giving a combined 7.6-litre capacity. That means you can cook two parts of a meal at once, with each side set to a completely different temperature, time and cooking function. One side could be used for chips while the other cooks chicken or vegetables, for example, without having to make both dishes follow the same programme. For busy households, that could make getting dinner on the table at the same time much easier. If you do want to cook the same thing in both zones, Match Cook lets you copy the settings across both sides, which could be particularly handy when batch cooking or feeding a crowd. There's also Ninja's Smart Finish function, designed to synchronise the cooking programmes so that both sides finish at the same time, even when the food needs different cooking times. But it's the glassware that really sets the new Ninja CRISPi apart. The PFAS- and PTFE-free glass cooking containers are designed to let you see your food as it cooks, while their thermal-shock-resistant construction means they can go from the air fryer to the table using the heat-safe handles. Once you've finished eating, the included lids mean leftovers can be covered and stored in the fridge without having to transfer them into another container. The glass cooking containers are also dishwasher-safe, potentially cutting down on the washing-up. That gives it plenty of versatility for everything from crispy chips and chicken to roasted vegetables, baked dishes, reheating leftovers and even proving dough. The 7.6-litre capacity also makes it a useful option for families or anyone who regularly cooks more than one thing at a time, while the two separate cooking zones mean you don't have to wait for one dish to finish before starting another. The Ninja CRISPi Dual Zone is available in three other colours, including Cyberspace, Bone and Rose Quartz. However, it's worth noting that the current £249.99 Amazon Prime Big Deal Days price applies to the stone gold colour only. That makes this one of the best deals this Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, in my option, as the CRISPi is still such a new launch. Rather than waiting months for the price to potentially drop, Amazon shoppers can currently pick up the latest Ninja DualZone model for £50 less than its £299.99 RRP during Prime Big Deal Days. * Amazon Prime members get free delivery on eligible items. Non-Prime customers may pay delivery charges depending on the order. Enjoy four months of Amazon Music Unlimited FREE if you're an eligible new subscriber with Prime! Not a Prime member? You could still get three months free Explore your favourite artists, discover fresh playlists and give your everyday soundtrack an upgrade Cancel before your trial ends to avoid ongoing subscription charges With the housing market continuing to shift in many parts of the UK, homeowners often choose to start by getting an up-to-date view of what their property could be worth. Estate agent Purplebricks offers a free, no-obligation valuation carried out by a local property expert familiar with current prices and demand in the area. The appointment typically includes an assessment of the property's likely market value along with guidance on pricing and presentation if the owner decides to sell. Valuations can be arranged online in just a few minutes by choosing a convenient appointment time and requesting a visit from a local property specialist. Book a free property valuation with Purplebricks here.