AI concerns intensify among businesses
A growing number of companies now see artificial intelligence (AI) as a formidable challenge for cybersecurity. This perspective has changed remarkably from last year, when less than a quarter shared this concern. Large companies, in particular, are the most wary, according to a survey of 895 organizations by ABN AMRO and research agency MWM2.
The Growing Threat of AI-Enhanced Social Engineering
Advances in AI are particularly improving “social engineering” tactics, where manipulative methods are used to extract confidential information from individuals. Generative AI has now simplified the process of creating phishing emails by enabling the rapid creation of eloquent, error-free messages in any chosen language. This technology has significantly reduced the development time of these emails.
Deepfake technologies manipulate reality
The threat landscape also extends to the technology of “deepfakes”, capable of generating realistic audiovisual content, leading to deceptions such as the case where an employee of a multinational in Hong Kong transferred more than 25 million dollars using to a convincing deepfake of the CFO. Similarly, an attempt was made against the employee of the Dutch online bank Bunq using an AI replica of its CEO, Ali Niknam.
The Changing Impact of AI on Cybersecurity
Although the UK’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) highlights that more sophisticated cybercriminals will benefit from these technologies, less skilled cybercriminals will not necessarily experience an exponential increase in their malicious capabilities. However, generative AI offers these individuals an easier path to malicious coding.
AI in the hands of businesses
Organizations using AI-based generative chatbots are also at risk of accidental data breaches, as evidenced by Samsung’s code leak issue via ChatGPT. Additionally, concerns arose when several ChatGPT Users reported accessing chat histories from other accounts, highlighting the potential for training data leaks.
Harnessing AI for Cyber Defense
Despite the risks, AI also shows promise for strengthening cyber defenses. It makes it easier to detect suspicious network patterns and prepare for future incidents. Companies are now using AI to produce malicious and phishing emails, with the aim of training detection systems, making AI an essential part of the cybersecurity arsenal.
The role of AI in amplifying cybersecurity threats
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a powerful tool in cybercrime, leading to complex cybersecurity challenges. Thanks to AI’s ability to learn and adapt, cyber threats have become more sophisticated, placing a significant burden on businesses to maintain robust security measures. AI’s dual capabilities mean it can be used to both improve security protocols and break them, leaving many businesses in a constant battle to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals.
Key questions and answers
– How is AI contributing to the increase in social engineering attacks? AI helps craft convincing phishing communications by generating personalized, contextually relevant messages, making it difficult for recipients to identify them as malicious.
– What are the problems with deepfake technology? Deepfakes can create realistic audio or video content that impersonates individuals, potentially leading to fraud and misinformation.
– Can less skilled attackers use AI effectively? While advanced cybercriminals benefit greatly from AI, even those who are less skilled now have access to tools that make it easier to carry out sophisticated attacks.
Main challenges and controversies
– AI Detection Accuracy: Even though AI can quickly identify potential security threats, distinguishing between benign and malicious activity with high accuracy remains a challenge.
– Data dependency: The performance of AI systems in cybersecurity depends heavily on the quality and quantity of the data they are trained on. Biases or errors in training data can undermine the effectiveness of AI security measures.
– Regulatory challenges: The rapid development of AI poses significant regulatory challenges, including ensuring ethical use and preventing abuse of the technology.
Advantages and disadvantages of AI in cybersecurity
– Benefits :
– AI can process large amounts of data to quickly detect anomalies and potential threats.
– Machine learning models can adapt to evolving cyber threats over time.
– Deploying AI-based security systems can reduce the workload of human analysts.
– Disadvantages:
– AI systems can be expensive to implement and require specialized expertise.
– Cybercriminals can also use AI to develop and launch powerful attacks.
– Over-reliance on AI could lead to complacency and a false sense of security, potentially making systems more vulnerable.
To learn more about artificial intelligence, consider visiting the following key areas:
– IBM AI
– deep mind
– OpenAI
These areas are reputable sources for current advancements and research in AI technology. They offer an overview of the latest applications of AI, including its role in cybersecurity.
