The possibility of Artificial Intelligence being used in cyber-attacks is already a reality and threatens companies’ cybersecurity.
AI, which used to be seen only as a promising tool for technological advances, is now also recognized as a potential threat to cyber security.
In practice, at the epicenter of contemporary concerns, AI plays a dual role. On the one hand, it is being incorporated into a variety of security products and services, with the aim of preventing cyberattacks and strengthening our digital defenses.
On the other hand, the same technology that is being used to protect can also be exploited to introduce new threats, making cyberspace a constantly evolving battlefield.
In this context, it is crucial that we understand how AI is shaping the cybersecurity landscape, both as a protective shield and as a potentially dangerous sword in the hands of cybercriminals.
Is Artificial Intelligence used in cyberattacks part of your evolution?
Before we talk about Artificial Intelligence being used in cyber-attacks, it’s worth highlighting the accelerated expansion of the technology.
Applied in various sectors, AI is an integral part of the ongoing digital transformation and new products and services that emerge every year.
In fact, industry is evolving its production processes based on automation integrated with Artificial Intelligence, generating better quality products and considerably reducing production costs.
AI technology also has a significant application in the digital market. We have chatbots, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, improving customer service and support, and virtual assistants associated with the Internet of Things, promising a major revolution in the coming years.
However, as the capacity of AI increases and becomes more powerful, it is possible to foresee an expansion of virtual threats and attacks.
As cybercriminals acquire technical knowledge, they create vulnerabilities using Artificial Intelligence, introducing new threats.
This leads us to a certainty about the efficiency of cyber attacks.
Both hero and villain: Artificial Intelligence used in Cyberattacks
At the renowned
Black Hat
conference, cybersecurity company
SparkCognition
unveiled the first AI-based “cognitive” antivirus system, called DeepArmor.
O
DeepArmor
aims to protect networks from cyberattacks by combining AI techniques such as neural networks, heuristics, data science and natural language processing with antivirus to locate and remove malicious files.
However, what happens when cyberattacks are designed on the basis of Artificial Intelligence?
AI’s ability to adapt to different circumstances is demonstrated in current examples, using techniques and tools such as machine learning, deep learning and natural language processing.
AI can be used to protect us, but it also makes us think about various cybersecurity threats. There is nothing to stop criminals from using AI for malicious purposes, and this is already happening.
According to Cybersecurity Ventures, cybercrime is expected to cause around US$8 trillion in damage by 2023, making cybercrime one of the biggest threats to global security.
Evidence of cyberattacks highlights the need to be prepared
There is a silent war going on and it revolves around cybersecurity.
Cyber attacks on strategic government sectors such as power stations, air traffic control and transportation systems are nothing new. Therefore, companies should already be preparing.
The vulnerability of strategic sectors shows the need to increasingly protect and monitor control systems connected to the Internet.
This concern also applies to companies in strategic sectors, as it increases the risk of cybersecurity for what is considered critical infrastructure.
It is important that companies actively monitor and protect their data networks and management and production solutions. In addition, an important aspect of this concern is having complete visibility of IT assets and their security risks.
Artificial Intelligence used in cyber-attacks: are we lost?
The rise of generative AI models has dramatically altered the threat landscape.
The popularity of ChatGPT, for example, has been exploited by malicious actors to create a hacker tool, facilitating malicious activities using deceptive chatbot services.
One such tool is “FraudGPT”, a bot designed specifically for offensive activities, available on Dark Web marketplaces and Telegram.
FraudGPT, like WormGPT, uses a chat box to produce phishing messages via SMS, effectively imitating banks.
In addition, to facilitate credit card theft, the bot can provide information on the best sites for fraud and provide Visa bank IDs that are not verified.
By exploiting this new tool, a skilled malicious actor can easily create attractive emails to lure recipients into clicking on malicious links, which is crucial for BEC phishing campaigns.
FraudGPT is available on a subscription basis, with prices ranging from $200 per month to $1,700 per year, offering hackers an AI-driven resource to facilitate their malicious objectives.
On July 13, 2023, a new technology called WormGPT was introduced, similar to FraudGPT. Unfortunately, it is being used by both criminals and those with limited technical knowledge to exploit others for financial gain.
Over time, criminals have learned to circumvent the safeguards established by experts, making it easier for them to carry out their harmful activities.
However, to mitigate threats like this, a robust defense-in-depth strategy, along with comprehensive security telemetry, is essential.
AI will also protect us from cyberattacks
Although we have a worrying scenario with the potential use of Artificial Intelligence in cyber-attacks, it is worth remembering that it will also be used to our advantage.
The risk is there, but experience also shows us that we need to do our bit. As you’ve already seen, AI has the potential to protect us, as well as bringing numerous benefits in various areas.
The strategy to be used is a continuous cybersecurity approach. After all, there will always be risks and organizations need to be able to deal with them, reducing this risk to a manageable level at all times.
In addition, we mustn’t forget the importance of cybersecurity professionals in all this evolution, the tools, policies and processes applied to data security and the prevention of attacks.
In fact, there is a lot to be done and, as with other threats, we must constantly seek to guarantee information security, data protection and privacy for companies and their users.
Eval – Transforming the Future with Artificial Intelligence
With over 18 years of innovation leadership, Eval is shaping the future of technology. Our strategic investment in Artificial Intelligence positions us at the forefront of the technological revolution, enabling us to provide state-of-the-art information security solutions.
Our mission is to ensure the prosperity and protection of our clients’ businesses in the digital age. Join us on this exciting journey and discover how Eval is redefining what is possible with AI.
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