The cybersecurity sector is quickly increasing due to developing technologies, but this expansion also presents new attack vectors. According to Acronis’ threat analysis, email-based assaults will climb 464% in 2023, owing partly to ChatGPT, which has made it simpler for ransomware gangs to produce appealing phishing emails, making such attacks more popular and quicker to launch.
The threats posed by artificial intelligence are unexpected
In 2023, AI is predicted to dominate the IT business, with ChatGPT and other models commanding worldwide news. These systems may replicate human speech, crawl over human-generated content, and learn using advanced intelligence models. Cybercriminals will utilize these technologies to speed assaults and produce phishing emails in many languages. Artificial intelligence is also used to automate cyberattacks, analyse bad programs, monitor and update malware signatures, and develop automated scripts for phishing emails and user data verification.
Attackers may expand their operations and attack more targets with more individualised payloads with effective automation and the use of machine learning (ML), making it more difficult to protect against such assaults.
One of the most intriguing types of assaults is when attackers attempt to reverse engineer the actual AI models. Such adversarial AI attacks can help attackers understand the vulnerabilities or biases in a detection model, allowing them to construct an attack that the model does not detect. In the end, AI is being used to combat AI.
Business email compromise is a significant concern
AI is evolving to detect connections to phishing sites but not QR codes, allowing crooks to hide harmful links behind QR codes. Malicious emails transmit bogus notifications to consumers by using legitimate cloud apps. Microsoft Office has made it more difficult for hackers to execute macros, leading them to rely on link files and Microsoft OneNote files instead. Companies are abandoning virtual private networks (VPNs) in favour of zero trust access, which necessitates dynamic permission for all access requests. They are also watching for abnormalities and potential hazards in behaviour patterns. While most businesses will still be compromized due to minor mistakes, the key difference between those who succeed and those who fail is how quickly they recognize and respond to attacks.
Real-time warnings and automated password changes may aid in the prevention of breaches.
Creating an effective defence via simplicity and resilience
Cyberattacks pose major risks to individuals and organizations alike, but it is feasible to stay ahead by tackling cybersecurity overcomplexity. Businesses frequently install an excessive number of instruments, producing a huge surface area for possible infiltration. Configuration problems drive 80% of ransomware assaults, which may be avoided with fewer prevention options. Reducing the participation of security vendors saves time, money, and resources, enabling products to function more efficiently across silos.
Keep track of every program and piece of data that it interacts with
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) and extended detection and response (XDR) solutions, for example, have enhanced system security by allowing tech executives to gather more data and insight into activities. These solutions, however, should not overwhelm administrators with hundreds of notifications, resulting in alert fatigue and missed risks. Instead, administrators could use AI or machine learning to automatically clear out false alarms, freeing up security engineers to focus on more pressing issues. AIOps and observability also improve infrastructure visibility and detect future difficulties.
AI as a supplement, not a substitute
AI and machine learning-based behaviour-based solutions are critical for cybersecurity because they can detect threats quickly and correctly. Some procedures, however, still require human intervention. AI and machine learning should be utilized as tools, not as substitutes. Organizations should build thorough defences, plan for and avoid attacks, employ multi-factor authentication, and keep software and hardware inventories.
Not only defence but offence as well
Organizations must test their incident response strategy, run frequent drills to restore vital servers in the event of an attack, and verify that malicious emails can be removed. Being cyber-savvy involves planning, vigilance, and offence. Knowing how to recognize phishing attempts and keeping credentials unique and secure may greatly aid in the battle against cyber attacks. Consolidating and reducing superfluous complexity is required to achieve cyber resilience.
