A hacker used AI agents to breach the websites of John Deere, SharkNinja, and other companies.

What it means

A Chinese-speaking hacker used fleets of AI agents to autonomously break into the websites of more than 100 companies, including John Deere and SharkNinja. The operation, observed by cybersecurity firm Norforge, cost roughly $50 per successful breach and required minimal human intervention—making it one of the first documented large-scale cyberattacks executed primarily by AI agents.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim originates from a Reuters exclusive that cites Snorre Fagerland, a principal threat researcher at Norforge, who monitored the hacker's activity over several weeks. The Verge and other outlets independently report the same details, lending it credibility as a reputable secondary source reporting on a named primary source. However, specific figures (100+ sites, $50 per breach) come from Norforge's observation and have not been independently verified.

How new

The story was published on October 19, 2026, making it genuinely new as of that date.

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