Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just a buzz word, it is a new technology that will revolutionize the world much like computers, the internet, and cell phones. Even now in its infancy, AI is being used in manufacturing controls, to regulate and dynamically adjust utility grids, to customize your user experience across many platforms by analyzing your use patterns, and in many other ways. As with other technologies, threat actors are quickly learning how to employ the capabilities of AI to improve and create ways to cause harm.

AI and Threat Actors

Threat actors, the individuals or groups behind cyberattacks, have increasingly turned to AI technology to enhance their malicious operations. Since at least 2022, discussions and alleged use of AI tools by threat actors have been on the rise. But what exactly are these AI tools? They include everything from chatbots and image generators to more sophisticated machine learning algorithms. These tools empower threat actors to conduct attacks with greater precision and effectiveness.

AI in Social Engineering and Malware

One way threat actors leverage AI is through social engineering. Imagine receiving a phishing email that seems tailor-made for you—it’s persuasive, personalized, and hard to distinguish from legitimate communication. AI assists threat actors in creating such convincing messages. Additionally, AI can be used to enhance malware. Threat actors modify existing malware or even create new malicious software using AI techniques. This allows them to stay ahead of security measures and evade detection.

Data Poisoning and Adversarial Imaging

Beyond social engineering and malware, AI-based threats extend to data poisoning and adversarial imaging. Data poisoning involves feeding false information into machine learning models, leading to incorrect outputs. Adversarial imaging tricks neural networks into misidentifying images or generating inconclusive results. These techniques can impact various domains, including healthcare diagnostics and cybersecurity.

In summary, threat actors are increasingly turning to AI tools to automate attacks, personalize social engineering, and create more potent malware. As technology evolves, organizations and individuals must stay vigilant and adopt countermeasures to protect against AI-based threats.*

*general information sourced from Deloitte US