Cybersecurity stocks fell for a second consecutive day as investors reacted to Anthropic’s new AI-powered security tool for its Claude model. The tool, launched in a limited research preview, scans software code for vulnerabilities and offers suggested fixes, prompting concerns that AI could disrupt traditional cybersecurity offerings.
Shares of CrowdStrike and Zscaler fell about 9%, Netskope dropped nearly 10%, and SailPoint declined 6%. Okta, SentinelOne, and Fortinet each lost more than 4%, while Palo Alto Networks and Cloudflare slipped 2% and 7%, respectively. Cybersecurity ETFs also fell, with the iShares Cybersecurity & Tech ETF down nearly 4% and the Global X Cybersecurity ETF at its lowest level since November 2023.
Some analysts, including Bank of America, argued that AI tools like Anthropic’s mainly threaten code-scanning platforms such as GitLab and JFrog, rather than end-to-end security systems. CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz emphasized that robust cybersecurity requires independent, battle-tested platforms, suggesting that AI may enhance efficiency without fully replacing existing security solutions.
Anthropic is expected to provide further enterprise briefings and new product announcements on Tuesday, highlighting growing AI influence in cybersecurity workflows.
