AI Security: What You Need to Know About the Future of Cyberattacks

What You Need to Know About the Future of Cyberattacks 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been around for decades, but only recently have attackers begun to leverage its potential for malicious purposes. This new reality has prompted a shift in the way defenders approach security. Current defense strategies are ill-equipped to handle complex AI-based attacks. It is essential to understand the various threats posed by AI and develop new techniques to counter them effectively. In this blog post, we will discuss what we can expect from AI-based cyberattacks over the next five years and beyond. 

The Next Five Years 

Over the next five years, attackers are likely to develop sophisticated capabilities that will make it easier for them to launch successful attack campaigns using AI. In particular, attackers could use automated machine learning algorithms to automatically identify unpatched network vulnerabilities and exploit them autonomously. Such an AI-powered attack would be capable of thoroughly compromising target networks in seconds.

Once inside a network, AI-armed attackers could use natural language processing (NLP) and automated Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) technologies to create convincing phishing emails containing synthesized content tailored to specific people within the network. Such attacks could easily bypass traditional security measures due to their highly targeted nature and stolen credentials. A recent Security Magazine article noted that phishing attacks, in 2022, were 61% higher than in 2021. It is reasonable to assume that as the cost and availability of AI systems rise, so will the quantity and quality of phishing attacks.

In addition, attackers may attempt to spoof biometric authentication systems using deepfakes generated by AI algorithms. As biometrics become increasingly commonplace for verifying user identities, attackers can use deepfakes generated with high-quality images and audio recordings to impersonate legitimate users and gain access to sensitive data or networks. 

Deepfake Attacks on the Rise

•The World Economic Forum (WEF) reports that the number of deepfake videos online is increasing at an annual rate of 900%.

• VMware finds that two out of three defenders report seeing malicious deepfakes used as part of an attack, a 13% increase from last year.

• These attacks can be devastatingly effective. For instance, in 2021, cybercriminals used AI voice cloning to impersonate the CEO of a large company and tricked the organization’s bank manager into transferring $35 million to another account to complete an “acquisition.”

• Many analysts predict that the uptick in deepfake phishing will only continue and that the false content produced by threat actors will only become more sophisticated and convincing.

• KPMG analyst Akhilesh Tuteja suggests that security leaders need to prepare for fraudsters using synthetic images and video to bypass authentication systems, such as biometric logins.

Advanced Attacks on the Horizon 

As attackers become more adept at leveraging AI technology for malicious purposes, they will be able to launch even more sophisticated attacks that are difficult—if not impossible—to detect or defend against. For example, attackers could use generative adversarial networks (GANs) to generate realistic images that fool facial recognition systems into granting access without requiring any additional authentication steps. Similarly, GANs could be used by attackers to generate documents and other files closely resembling those created by legitimate sources to trick users into downloading malicious payloads or giving away confidential information.  

The year 2027: Black and White Hat Artificially Intelligent Systems Battling for Control Over Networks?

While it is impossible to predict exactly how far attackers will take their use of AI over the next few years, one thing is certain: defenders must remain vigilant if they are going to stay ahead of these imminent threats posed by AI-based cyberattacks. It is essential for defenders not only to understand how attackers are leveraging AI technologies but also to develop new techniques and strategies for detecting and countering such threats before they become too advanced or widespread. To counter the threat of AI-powered cyber attacks, defenders will to do more than just understand their adversary, they will also need to deploy their own AI-powered cyber defensive systems and strategies. The battle for cyberspace is just heating up! Will we see AI systems battling it out -- in virtual cyberwars -- for control of the networks that we've all come to rely upon to run our daily lives? Only time will tell!