AI (artificial intelligence) has gained popularity in the last few years. The introduction of GenAI has resulted in many companies and businesses exploring the benefits of AI in different aspects of operations. One of the most promising areas is cybersecurity. So, what are the benefits and risks associated with AI in cybersecurity?
Artificial intelligence (AI): What is it?
AI is a computer system that can work without human intelligence or minimal human intervention like speech recognition, visual perception, language translation and text generation. Generative AI is the recent AI development, involving tools that can create different content types like images, text and videos.
When it comes to cybersecurity, AI has been at the forefront of enhancements and developments. A good example is machine learning tools; they can find anomalies more efficiently and faster compared to humans. They have helped in making fraud-detection software, anti-malware and viruses like the Norton Antivirus program for Windows 11 and network security. With the wide spread of AI, comes great risks like DoS (denial of service), social engineering attacks and brute force.
Risks Associated With AI in Cybersecurity Sector
Like all technology, artificial intelligence can be used for good and bad reasons. People with ill intentions can use different AI tools meant for human enhancement to commit cybersecurity crimes like scams and fraud. Here are some AI risks in cybersecurity.
Automated Malware
AI is known to be good at crunching numbers, like ChatGPT, meaning it can even write complex codes to near perfection. This is and will help software developers, coders and computer programmers in executing their work. Despite the measures put in place to prevent the creation of malicious codes in some AI tools like ChatGPT, experts with years of experience can look for loopholes to bypass and create dangerous malware and viruses.
This is where Norton comes into play. Their compute protection software helps in detecting and notifying the user about any malicious software introduced into the computer system. This prevents things like malicious bots that can infect networks, attack systems and steal data.
Increase in Cyberattacks
Cybercriminals can use GenAI and LLM (large language models) to increase the magnitude of attacks in terms of speed and complexity. Generative AI has the ability to find new and innovative ways to use cloud complexity and geopolitical tensions to enhance attacks. Additionally, attackers can optimise their phishing attacks and ransomware with the help of AI tools.
Privacy Risks
AI tools can leak bits of chat history, like ChatGPT a few months ago. Although the situation was fixed, privacy risks are still there due to the large data traffic. Attackers like hackers can access sensitive information when they hack AI systems. There are other different ways AI systems, especially those designed for advertising, profiling, surveillance and marketing, can threaten privacy, like impersonation. Some countries are using AI profiling techs to invade user privacy.
Keeping Devices Safe from Cyberattacks
Individuals and businesses must take a proactive and holistic approach to get the best out of AI technology and prevent themselves from cybercrimes. Here are some tips, you and your employees can use to protect the organization and devices from cyberattacks.
Data Security
AI relies on trained data to work properly and deliver good and true outcomes. Therefore, an AI system can produce dangerous or unexpected results if the data is poisoned or modified. This means that organisations must take data protection seriously and invest in backup techs, access control and state-of-the-art encryption technologies. Networks and devices should be secured using sophisticated passwords, firewalls and intrusion detection systems.
Norton Antivirus program is one of the best firewalls that employees and organisations, in general, should use to ensure data and devices are safe from cyber-attacks. Other benefits you can get from the Norton Antivirus program include:
- 100% antivirus protection
- Real-time malware and virus protection
- Parental control
- Secure VPN for internet privacy
- Affordable
- Improve efficiency
In a Nutshell
AI is playing a great role when it comes to developing and enhancing systems. However, the risks are as many as the benefits. Investing in an AI-powered system to help in preventing cyberattacks is the sensible thing to do, especially with the increasing use of AI for different purposes. Norton Antivirus program offers 24/7 protection and monitoring!
