Welcome to a new era, where artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving at full speed, shifting the mechanics of almost every industry as we know it. Because of its advancements, AI and cybersecurity have developed a complex relationship that’s posing major issues in the tech space.
While there are many benefits to the advancements in AI, its power raises some concerns in the cybersecurity field, as both security teams and hackers are using AI to their advantage.
An Introduction to AI
AI is a term that refers to the science of stimulating human intelligence in machinery with the intent of enabling them to replicate our actions and thinking process.
With that said, AI machines can perform tasks that previously only humans could complete, and for some, AI may surpass human capability.
In other words, AI is outsmarting humans in more ways than one. It determines the best way to solve a problem, and it does this by carefully analyzing large amounts of training data and then identifying patterns in the data to mimic in their own decision-making process.
The concept was first introduced in 1950, when British mathematician and logician Alan Turing contemplated “thinking machines” that could replicate human behaviors and thinking patterns. Just a few years later, the term “artificial intelligence” was born.
AI and Cybersecurity: An Overview of the Benefits
Artificial intelligence (AI) has already made waves in almost every industry, and cybersecurity is one of them. By 2030, AI is expected to surge to nearly $135 billion, according to a recent research report. Cybersecurity organizations have becoming increasingly reliant on AI, which can analyze enormous sets of data and identify patterns. Aside from this, AI is suited to tackle tasks such as:
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- Stimulating social engineering attacks
- Detecting attacks with more accuracy than humans
- Rapidly analyzing vast amounts of incident-related data
AI is also capable of advancing penetration testing, probing defenses of software and networks to spot weaknesses. Organizations that develop AI tools to target their own technology, they will be able to identify their frailties before hackers get the chance to exploit them.
Notably, AI and cybersecurity have forged a new era of digital concerns that every one with a working internet connection should be privy to.
How Hackers are Exploiting AI
It’s an unfortunate part of the digital age, but cybercriminals are advancing as quickly as AI, and they’re using it to their advantage in ways unprecedented.
Let’s observe some of the ways they’re using AI to their advantage:
1. Deepfakes
This form of deception is making waves across the industry and stands at the center of many of the recent celebrity scandals. Deepfakes are manipulated visual or audio content that appears legitimate.
Deepfakes use audio and video to impersonate someone else and the content can be distributed online in a matter of seconds, altering an individual’s image or reputation overnight. Cybercriminals often use deepfakes in conjunction with social engineering and other types of schemes.
2. Password Hacking
Easily one of the most frequent forms of hacking, cybercriminals use AI to improve the algorithms they use for deciphering passwords. Enhanced algorithms make it easier to guess passwords, allowing hackers to become more profitable in the long run.
3. Data Poisoning
Cybercriminals alter or “poison” the training data used by an AL algorithm to influence its decisions. To clarify, deceptive information is being fed to the algorithm, leading to bad output. To add, data poisoning can be extremely time-consuming to detect and in most cases, the damage is already done by the time it’s uncovered.
The Positive Correlation Between AI and Cybersecurity
As AI continues to evolve, there will be more concerns regarding risk management and data privacy. In addition, artificial intelligence has integrated itself into nearly every aspect of our society. The advancements in AI has the potential to impact our lives both positively and negatively.
Hackers will continue to exploit AI, especially as it advances, and cybersecurity is more important than ever. To remain secure in an evolving climate, review your current cybersecurity protection and ensure it follows the best, most advanced practices in areas such as data privacy, social engineering, passwords, and personal cybersecurity.
