Keypoint Intelligence’s Cybersecurity page
In this series, in conjunction with Agile Cybersecurity Solutions (ACS, our cybersecurity testing and consulting partner), Keypoint Intelligence investigates the many facets of cybersecurity to deliver insight and strategy. Check back here next Tuesday for more free tips and tricks, helpful hints, as well as solutions and tools—all to help you navigate the potentially treacherous waters of cybersecurity.
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to deliver numerous benefits, but its potential for misuse—dangerous misuse, even—grows as AI capabilities become more advanced. AI-powered hacking tools allow criminals to carry out cyberattacks of unprecedented scale and sophistication, so organizations and individuals must urgently improve their defenses or suffer the consequences of the threat.
Traditional antivirus protection simply cannot keep pace with rapidly evolving AI malware. Security providers have responded by incorporating AI algorithms directly into new antivirus solutions. These tools exploit AI’s pattern recognition abilities to instantly identify even zero-day threats. Machine learning further enables the software to autonomously adapt its threat detection models on-the-fly as new attack variants emerge.
However, blocking malware is only one piece of the puzzle. Hackers frequently use AI to create targeted phishing campaigns that mimic trusted contacts’ writing styles. To combat this, behavioral biometrics systems use AI to track keyboard dynamics and linguistic patterns when composing emails. By flagging significant deviations from normal tendencies, organizations can catch attempts at impersonation.
Of course, detecting suspicious messages and malware is only useful if network defenses can contain threats. This is why corporations have begun implementing AI-augmented intrusion prevention systems that combine deep-packet inspection with real-time network analysis. High-speed pattern matching allows these tools to analyze traffic flows for anomalies and instantly block detected infiltration efforts.
Still, no defensive solution is foolproof given enough time and computing power. True resilience requires assuming one’s defenses will ultimately fail. Organizations need to conduct scheduled penetration tests wherein ethical hackers develop custom AI attack tools tailored to exploit the target’s vulnerabilities. This flips the script, helping patch security gaps before actual criminals uncover them.
Quantum cryptography also holds immense promise for guaranteeing high-value data remains exponentially harder to crack, even by a theoretically unlimited AI adversary. By transmitting information as quantum particles, tampering becomes apparent as merely reading quantum data changes its state. Securing backups using quantum encryption could be the key to preventing catastrophic data loss.
Organizations cannot implement such technologies overnight, and prioritizing protections for your most sensitive assets is crucial. The same goes for vigilantly monitoring account activity, keeping software updated, and enabling multi-factor authentication—all of which remain highly effective initial steps.
Keypoint Intelligence Opinion
Artificial intelligence promises wondrous benefits, no doubt about it, but it also introduces unprecedented risks and hazards that are now being identified. Through diligence and collaborative action to get ahead of emerging threats, people do not have to abandon all the progress and convenience AI offers. Maintaining an open, ethical AI development ecosystem remains imperative for encouraging responsible research into protective applications over destructive uses. If AI is built and guided in the right way, it can empower people to reach new heights instead of grounding human progress.
Browse through our Industry Reports Page (latest reports only). Log in to the InfoCenter to view research, reports, and studies on cybersecurity through our WorkPlace CompleteView Advisory Service. If you’re not a subscriber, contact us for more info by clicking here.
Keep Reading
The Insider’s Guide to Cybersecurity: The Expanding Role of AI in Hacking
The Insider’s Guide to Cybersecurity: The Rise of AI-Driven Hacking
The Insider’s Guide to Cybersecurity: What Can Happen with Inadequate Endpoint Management
The Insider’s Guide to Cybersecurity: Endpoint Security Management
The Insider’s Guide to Cybersecurity: Crafting Your Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan
The Insider’s Guide to Cybersecurity: The Power of Cybersecurity Awareness Training Programs
The Insider’s Guide to Cybersecurity: Planning for Cybersecurity Awareness Month
