A majority of companies see advances in artificial intelligence (AI) as a threat to cybersecurity, a significant increase compared to the previous year. This new concern is particularly pronounced among large companies. These results emerge from a survey carried out by ABN Amro and the MWM2 research institute, which covered 895 organizations.
The area of “social engineering” – where individuals are psychologically manipulated into disclosing confidential information or carrying out harmful actions – is where AI is becoming particularly worrying. AI technologies enhance deception capabilities in more sophisticated ways. For example, generative AI can easily create deceptive emails, streamlining the phishing process, which could encourage more frequent and targeted cyberattacks. IBM X-Force research indicates that generative AI reduces the time it takes to create phishing emails from hours to just minutes.
Additionally, conversational AI systems are being deployed to conduct automated chats capable of extracting sensitive login information or initiating financial transactions. Additionally, deepfake technology pushes the boundaries even further by making audio or visual materials so realistic that they can easily fool victims into believing they are interacting with a trusted contact, when in fact they are not. reality they are interacting with an imposter. The rise of such compelling AI-based deception tools has raised alarms across the cybersecurity landscape, showing that as artificial intelligence advances, the threats it poses become increasingly more sinister and difficult to counter.
Emerging AI Cybersecurity Concerns: As AI becomes more sophisticated, cybercriminals can exploit it to carry out more effective and damaging attacks. Here are some key questions and answers related to these concerns:
Q: How does AI exacerbate cybersecurity threats?
A: AI can automate and optimize the execution of cyberattacks, making them more effective and harder to detect. For example, it can enable the rapid creation of phishing emails, personalize attacks using machine learning to bypass security systems, or produce highly convincing deepfakes for social engineering purposes.
Q: What are the challenges of using AI for cybersecurity defense?
A: Although AI offers enhanced threat detection and response capabilities, it also presents challenges such as the need for large data sets for training, the possibility of AI systems being tricked or evaded by adaptive adversaries and the guarantee that AI systems do not violate privacy. or ethical guidelines.
Main challenges or controversies:
– Ethical implications: The potential misuse of AI for harmful purposes raises ethical concerns about the development and deployment of AI technologies.
– Confidentiality: AI systems processing personal data for cybersecurity purposes present privacy concerns and may pose a risk of data breaches or misuse of sensitive information.
– Responsibility: Determining responsibility for actions taken by AI systems, particularly in the event of a security breach, can be controversial and complex.
Advantages and disadvantages:
– Benefits : AI can significantly improve cybersecurity through automated threat detection, rapid incident response, and predictive analytics to anticipate future threats.
– Disadvantages: AI’s reliance on large data sets can lead to privacy issues and, if not properly managed, AI systems can introduce new vulnerabilities or biases that could be exploited by opponents.
For more information and insights on AI and cybersecurity, please refer to reputable organizations and research groups that focus on cybersecurity, such as:
– Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): LPCC
– The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): NIST
– The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA): ENISA
– International Association for Cryptological Research (IACR): IACR
When adopting AI in cybersecurity, it is essential to balance innovation with caution, ensuring that advances are leveraged responsibly and do not inadvertently create additional risks.
