LLMjacking can run up your business’ AI bill fast – how to stop it
Source: ZDNet ·
Google analysts warn that stolen AI credentials are being sold underground, and businesses are footing the bill.
From the source
ZDNET’s key takeaways Security experts warn of a growing market in stolen AI account credentials. LLMjacking, the illegal use of AI resources, is a popular criminal trend in 2026. Businesses must monitor and protect their accounts. Here’s how. Security experts warn that it’s not just artificial intelligence (AI) going rogue that we have to worry about — there’s also a booming underground economy for selling access to your AI models and computing power. Speaking to the Financial Times, John Hultquist, chief analyst for Google Threat Intelligence Group, said that the cybersecurity unit has seen a “major increase” in what is known as LLMjacking over 2026, a trend that could cost businesses dearly. What is LLMjacking? If cryptojacking came to mind, you’re on the right track. While cryptojacking describes stealing computing power to illicitly mine cryptocurrency, LLMjacking is the AI equivalent: using AI power and resources that don’t belong to you. More from ZDNET Also: OpenAI’s Dots:…