How AI is used in cybercrime

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has become increasingly common in many different industries and fields, from healthcare to finance to transportation. While the potential benefits of AI are vast and numerous, it’s important to also consider the potential drawbacks and negative uses of this technology. One area where AI is increasingly being utilized is in the realm of cybercrime.

Types of AI-Powered attacks:

One way that AI is used in cybercrime is through the development of sophisticated malware. This type of software is designed to infect a computer or network without the user’s knowledge and can cause significant damage or disruption. Traditionally, malware has been relatively easy to detect and remove, as it typically follows a set pattern of behavior. However, AI-powered malware can learn and adapt to its environment, making it much harder to detect and remove.

For example, AI-powered malware can analyze a computer’s system and behavior in order to determine the best way to infiltrate it. It can also automate certain tasks, such as stealing sensitive information or extorting money from victims. This makes it much more effective and efficient for attackers, as they can carry out a larger number of attacks with less effort.

Another way that AI is used in cybercrime is through the creation of deepfake technology. This involves using AI algorithms to manipulate audio and video recordings, making it appear as though someone said or did something that they did not. Deepfake technology can be used for a variety of nefarious purposes, such as spreading false information or creating fake news. It can also be used to impersonate individuals in order to steal their identity or commit other crimes.

For example, an attacker could create a deepfake video of a high-ranking executive at a company, and use it to trick other employees into divulging sensitive information or transferring money. The use of deepfake technology makes it much easier for attackers to impersonate others and can be difficult for even trained individuals to detect. This makes it a powerful tool for those looking to commit cybercrimes.

In 2018, it was reported that hackers were using deepfake technology in cyberattacks, targeting politicians, celebrities, and other individuals. These attacks were extremely successful, as they were able to fool many viewers into believing that the videos were completely authentic. This shows that the use of deepfake technology is becoming a more and more widespread problem, and it highlights the importance of implementing measures to protect against these attacks.

AI is also being used in phishing attacks, which are a common form of cybercrime. According to Verizon 2022 Data Breach Investigation Report, Phishing is the second key path to your organization’s network with almost 20% usage over all other methods. Phishing involves sending fraudulent emails or messages that appear to be from a legitimate source, in order to trick the recipient into divulging sensitive information or downloading malware. AI can be used to automate the process of sending out large numbers of phishing emails, making it easier for attackers to target a larger number of victims.

In 2019, a report by New York University’s Stern School of Business showed that 41% of executives believed their organization had been the target of a phishing attack in the previous year. This number has increased in recent years, as cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their attacks. Businesses need to be aware of the dangers posed by cybercriminals and take the necessary steps to protect their networks.

It can also analyze the behavior of these victims in order to determine which types of messages are likely to result in a successful attack. This means that, in the future, it will become much easier for cybercriminals to launch targeted phishing attacks that are highly personalized and therefore more effective.

Phishing is also becoming increasingly common as an initial access broker, whereby attackers outsource the phishing component and then deploy more sophisticated exploits as the landing strategy. If an attacker is able to convince an employee to click on a link in a phishing email, for example, it can make it a lot easier for them to gain access to the company’s network.

How to protect your enterprise against AI-powered attacks:

There are many ways to protect your enterprise against such AI-powered attacks. For maximum effectiveness, you should combine a number of different tactics into a single security strategy. For example, you may decide that the best way to protect your business against AI-powered attacks is to use an AI-based solution. However, this will not solve the problem if employees are still falling for phishing emails. check our last blog “managing the risk of rogue employees” to know how to deal with such employees. You should also implement threat-hunting techniques to identify threats that evaded your AI-based solution. Threat hunting involves monitoring your network traffic to identify unusual or suspicious behavior that could be an indication of a threat. Then you can take immediate steps to mitigate any potential threats and prevent them from spreading across the network.

NEXTRAY NDR can automatically do that for you, it has advanced AI and ML capabilities that can be applied to all the data that is stored in the cloud, in data centers, in IoT, and in enterprise infrastructure systems to hunt, detect, prioritize, and respond effectively to known and unknown threats.

NEXTRAY NDR’s AI-based UEBA engine will detect, analyze, and prioritize a wide range of malicious activity-from ransomware campaigns to APTs-before they become a bigger problem for your organization even if AI is used to launch such attacks. It can even learn from mistakes to improve its accuracy over time.

NEXTRAY NDR is a comprehensive solution to stop such attacks with its SOC visibility triad that consists of SIEM, EDR, and NEXTRAY NDR, its visibility goes beyond the network by also having visibility across logs and endpoints.

NEXTRAY NDR also includes hunting capabilities for APTs, botnets, and ransomware as well as prevention and mitigation capabilities such as URL filtering and malware analysis. which makes it a must-have for organizations that are seeking an easy, comprehensive, and automatic approach to protect their network against such AI-based attacks.

Overall, the use of AI in cybercrime is a growing concern. As this technology continues to develop and become more advanced, it will likely be used in increasingly sophisticated and effective ways by those looking to commit crimes online. It’s important for individuals and organizations to stay vigilant and take steps to protect themselves from these threats. This includes staying up to date with the latest security measures and being aware of the potential risks associated with AI.

References:

1. Concerns about democracy in the digital age (https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/02/21/concerns-about-democracy-in-the-digital-age/)

2. Cyber Terrorism: What It Is and How It’s Evolved (https://online.maryville.edu/blog/cyber-terrorism/#:~:text=An%20effect%2C%20most%20commonly%20violence,nongovernment%20organizations%2C%20or%20physical%20infrastructure)

3. NSA’S Top Ten Cybersecurity Mitigation Strategies (https://www.nsa.gov/portals/75/documents/what-we-do/cybersecurity/professional-resources/csi-nsas-top10-cybersecurity-mitigation-strategies.pdf)

4. SQ2. What are the most important advances in AI? (https://ai100.stanford.edu/2021-report/standing-questions-and-responses/sq2-what-are-most-important-advances-ai)

5. The Impact of AI on Cybersecurity (https://www.computer.org/publications/tech-news/trends/the-impact-of-ai-on-cybersecurity/)

6. The Impact of AI on Cybersecurity (https://www.computer.org/publications/tech-news/trends/the-impact-of-ai-on-cybersecurity/)

7. Verizon, (2022), Data Breach Investigation Report, (https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/)

8. Will deepfake cybercrime ever go mainstream? (https://techmonitor.ai/technology/cybersecurity/deepfake-cybercrime-mainstream)

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