The Rise of the AI-Powered Hacker: How AI Is Remaking Cybersecurity

[msfntor]

The Rise of the AI-Powered Hacker: How AI Is Remaking Cybersecurity

by JESS MCDURBAN

JAN 30, 2023 1:15 PM EST

 

An Emerging Threat

In the age of the internet, hackers have become a real threat to businesses and individuals alike. As technology becomes ever more sophisticated, they are finding new ways of exploiting vulnerabilities and gaining access to confidential information. But in the 2020s, hackers are taking their game to the next level with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).

AI-powered hackers are discovering ways of using machine learning algorithms and natural language processing to automate their attacks and gain access to data that was once thought to be impossible or too difficult to access. This new wave of AI-powered hacking is revolutionizing the way hackers operate and taking cybersecurity to a whole new level. By using AI, hackers are able to find vulnerabilities faster and more efficiently, making them a real threat to businesses and individuals.

Hackers are able to automate many of their methods, making them more efficient and effective. They can identify patterns in the data they have access to and quickly develop new methods for gaining access to confidential information. AI can also help them identify potential weaknesses in a system, allowing them to exploit these weaknesses faster and more effectively.

Intelligent Automated Hacking

Hackers using AI are becoming increasingly sophisticated and successful in their attempts to gain access to networks, systems and data. Artificial intelligence is being used to automate the process of launching cyberattacks, making it easier for hackers to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in their targets. This could include using AI to develop malware that can evade traditional security measures, or using AI-driven bots to launch distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks.

AI can also be used to generate more powerful passwords, break encryption methods and analyze data to identify patterns and trends. AI can also be used to help hackers launch phishing attacks, which involve sending malicious emails to acquire sensitive information. AI can be used to craft emails that appear to come from legitimate sources, such as a bank or government agency, and to customize them to the recipient’s interests and preferences.

In addition, AI can be used to analyze emails for common characteristics, such as the language used, to determine the source of the email and determine if it is malicious or not. AI can also be used to automate the process of searching for vulnerable systems and networks, which can be difficult for hackers to do manually. These algorithms scan the internet for vulnerable systems, compile information about them and create detailed reports.

The Aftermath

The threat of AI-powered hackers is real and present. Several high-profile data breaches have already occurred in which AI was used to expose vulnerable systems. One of the most notorious examples was the 2015 Office of Personnel Management (OPM) breach, where hackers used AI-powered tools to target government databases. In this attack, hackers were able to steal the personal information of over 22 million people, including Social Security numbers, addresses, and fingerprint data.

In 2017, the WannaCry ransomware attack used AI to spread quickly across the globe, infecting more than 230,000 computers in over 150 countries. Hackers used machine learning algorithms to quickly identify and exploit vulnerable systems, allowing them to quickly spread the ransomware and demand payment.

In 2020, the SolarWinds hack is one of the most recent examples of how AI-powered hackers can target routine software updates.

12 Ways to Fight Against AI Hackers

But just as AI can be used maliciously by hackers, it can be used for protection when in the hands of white hat cybersecurity experts. The following is a list of ways to fight back against AI hackers:

Deploy AI-Powered Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS)

Employ Host-Based AI-Powered Firewalls

Utilize AI-Based Behavioral Analysis

Use AI-Powered Network Segmentation

Implement AI-Powered Access Control

Utilize AI-Powered Network Visibility

Implement Anomaly Detection with AI

Monitor Network Traffic with AI

Utilize AI-Powered Authentication

Utilize AI-Powered Log Management

Use AI-Powered Security Monitoring

Implement AI-Powered Security

Summary

The rise of AI-powered hackers and the increasing use of AI technology in cybersecurity is a trend that is here to stay. According to a recent survey, 46% of security teams are already using AI-powered solutions to detect and prevent cyber attacks.

This shift to AI-powered solutions has enabled organizations to accelerate their responses to cyber threats and reduce the financial impact of a successful attack on their networks. The use of AI technology in cybersecurity is no longer a distant dream and is becoming an increasingly important part of the security landscape for businesses of all sizes.

Here: https://turbofuture.com/internet/How-Hackers-are-using-AI-to-easily-wreak-havoc