Steer Clear of These 3 AI Cyber Risks

The artificial intelligence revolution has only begun; and so far, its applications in cybersecurity remain the second largest use as over half (51%) of companies leverage the technology in shielding their operations from attacks.

However, despite its promising merits, AI poses a real threat to both small and large companies when coupled with malicious intentions. From ultra-realistic deep fakes to phishing and more sophisticated attacks, these dangers serve as a reminder to stay vigilant and prepared.

In this blog, we explore the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity.

AI’s Positive Mark on Business Operations

It’s hard to ignore the many upsides of artificial intelligence in daily business operations. 

• First on the list is thorough data analysis beyond human capacity. AI algorithms can swiftly analyze massive data sets, uncovering patterns that remain concealed from the human eye. Artificial intelligence may be helpful in unveiling the next likely attack on your business, its nature, and its potential impact, enabling more informed decision-making.
• Artificial intelligence takes over mundane tasks, leaving employees to more revenue-generating business operations. Tearing apart systems and networks to track down anomalies every time an attack becomes imminent can be done with AI rather than manually. This leaves more time to focus on productive activities.
• Companies that invest in AI for cybersecurity relish quick response strategies to emerging security threats. Machine learning models can modify their behavior with evolving cybersecurity challenges, building robust defenses against increasingly complex attacks.

Plotting an attacker’s next move demands thorough analysis and forecasting. AI tools can help prepare comprehensive incident response plans.

AI’s Cyber Security Challenges

As businesses continue to explore AI’s use in day-to-day operations, turning a blind eye to the potential risks it poses could be detrimental to the company’s existence. 

Here are the five top AI cyber risks to watch out for:

1. Sophisticated AI-Powered Attacks

It goes without doubt that as businesses pour investments into AI, malicious actors, too, have invested in the very best AI tools for the job. AI, for instance, can generate, debug, and execute malicious code in a fraction of the time it would take a team of human developers to detect and develop security patches.

To strengthen your defenses, educate your team about such AI capabilities and consider incorporating layered security measures (firewalls, end-point encryption, and AV software simultaneously).

2. AI-Powered Phishing Scams

Employees accustomed to antiquated phishing red flags (such as grammatical errors in phishing emails) are likely to fall for AI-powered phishing scams. Language learning models (LLMs) generate flawless phishing emails that may sail past even the most discerning. As with other phishing emails, AI-driven scams target human vulnerability to extract sensitive information from unsuspecting employees.

To build stronger defenses, develop a security awareness training program that encourages employees to stay vigilant, avoid suspicious links, and scrutinize sender details before sharing sensitive information.

3. Deep Fakes and Impersonation

Ultra-realistic deep fakes bring a whole new threat of misinformation and fraud. AI tools have been – and still are – being used to create deceiving visual and audio content for fraudulent activity. In highly sensitive fields such as banking and politics, deep fakes and impersonation may help propagate misinformation and financial crimes.

Recently, the United States government secured voluntary commitments from AI leaders to implement a watermarking system for AI-generated visual, audio, and text content in a move toward safe, secure, and transparent use of AI technology. Before these take full effect, however, companies must remain vigilant towards anomalies in image texture, blinking patterns, and facial shadows to distinguish between genuine and manipulated content.

If sailing through the AI challenges hindering its successful implementation in your cybersecurity posture seems daunting, don’t fret. Get in touch with BoomTech today and learn how to harness the power of artificial intelligence for your organization’s safety.