The rise in the popularity of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become impossible to ignore. It’s impact across all areas of business is widespread; From ChatGPT, to lightning-fast data analysis algorithms.
Businesses today are under constant pressure from the ever-growing threat of AI cyberattacks. The increasing complexity of these attacks demands modern solutions, and AI is stepping up as a powerful tool in the realm of cybersecurity. Leveraging enhanced cybersecurity strategies can be a game-changer for businesses, providing robust protection while optimising resources.
Let’s explore the impact of AI-driven cyberattacks on businesses, and how IT support and Managed IT Services can aid companies of all sizes.
Evolution of AI Cyberattack Strategies
AI cyberattack strategies and threats have evolved dramatically over the years, becoming more sophisticated and frequent. Traditional cybersecurity measures are still incredibly important for a business to implement for proper protection and are deemed as incredibly necessary for a modern company.
In the early days of cybercrime, most attacks were manual, carried out by individual hackers or small groups using basic tools. These attacks were often random, relying on widespread phishing emails, simple viruses, and basic hacking techniques to exploit common vulnerabilities. Automation was minimal, and the success of an attack depended largely on the skill and persistence of the attacker.
As technology advanced, so did the tools available to cybercriminals. The introduction of automated scripts and botnets allowed attackers to scale their operations, launching widespread attacks with minimal effort. This era saw the rise of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, automated phishing campaigns, and the mass exploitation of known vulnerabilities.
The integration of artificial intelligence into cyberattacks marked a significant turning point. AI enabled attackers to overcome many of the limitations of previous methods, making cyberattacks more sophisticated, adaptive, and difficult to detect. With machine learning algorithms, attackers could analyse vast amounts of data to identify patterns, learn from past attempts, and optimise their strategies in real-time.
Looking ahead, the future of AI cyberattacks is likely to involve even more autonomy. As AI technology continues to advance, cyberattacks could become entirely self-directed, with AI systems autonomously deciding when and how to launch attacks without human intervention.
Examples of AI Cyberattack Strategies
AI cyberattacks have become increasingly diverse, leveraging machine learning, deep learning, automated processes, and other AI technologies to execute sophisticated and adaptive attacks. Below is a list of common AI cyberattack types, along with real-world examples to illustrate their impact.
AI-Powered Phishing Attacks
AI-powered phishing attacks use machine learning algorithms to create highly personalised and convincing phishing emails. These emails are tailored to the recipient’s behaviour, preferences, and social connections, making them more difficult to detect as fraudulent.
In 2019, an unnamed energy company in the UK experienced an AI-powered phishing attack where the attackers used AI to mimic the CEO’s voice. The deepfake voice called a senior executive, convincing them to transfer €220,000 (Approx. $365,000 AUD) to a fraudulent account. This attack highlighted the potential of AI to create highly convincing impersonations, making traditional phishing more dangerous.
AI-Driven Malware
AI-driven malware can learn from its environment, adapt to avoid detection, and even evolve over time. Unlike traditional malware, which follows a set pattern, AI-driven malware can change its behaviour based on the defences it encounters.
A popular AI cyberattack involving malware was connected to Emotet. Originally a banking Trojan, Emotet evolved into a sophisticated, AI-driven malware capable of adapting its attack vectors based on the security measures it encountered. Emotet used AI to analyse network traffic and identify the best time to strike, leading to widespread infections across multiple industries before it was taken down in 2021.
AI-Powered Ransomware
AI-powered ransomware enhances traditional ransomware by using machine learning to identify the most valuable files to encrypt, increasing the likelihood of a ransom being paid. AI can also help the ransomware spread more effectively through a network by identifying weak points in real time.
Several Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) platforms have started integrating AI to optimise their ransomware’s effectiveness. For instance, AI has been used to improve the encryption process, making it harder for victims to recover their data without paying the ransom.
AI-Enabled Evasion Techniques
AI is used to enhance evasion techniques, enabling malware to avoid detection by traditional antivirus software. These AI-driven evasion techniques can modify the malware’s code on the fly, test different payloads against security tools, and even mimic legitimate software behaviour to avoid raising alarms.
Unveiled by IBM in 2018 as a proof-of-concept, DeepLocker used AI to conceal its malicious payload until it identified a specific target. This AI-driven malware could remain undetected on a system, only activating when certain conditions were met, such as recognising a specific person’s face through facial recognition.
AI-Powered Social Engineering
AI is used to gather and analyse vast amounts of personal data from social media, email, and other sources to create highly targeted social engineering attacks. These attacks manipulate individuals into divulging sensitive information or taking harmful actions.
In 2020, cybercriminals used AI to enhance spear-phishing attacks targeting executives. By analysing executives’ LinkedIn profiles, social media activity, and previous communications, the attackers crafted emails that appeared to come from trusted sources within their networks, leading to several successful breaches in the financial sector.
AI Cyberattacks – Contact Adept IT Solutions Today
The evolution of AI cyberattacks reflects a broader trend in the digital world, where technology continues to advance at an unprecedented pace. As these threats become more sophisticated, businesses must evolve their cybersecurity strategies accordingly.
Investing in advanced IT Support, comprehensive IT Services, and Managed IT Services is not just an option, it’s a necessity to stay ahead of the curve and protect against the ever-growing threat of destructive AI cyberattacks.
A leading provider of IT support in Newcastle, Central Coast, Sydney and beyond, Adept IT Solutions has over 20 years of experience supplying IT services to businesses of all sizes. Providing robust cybersecurity services to combat both traditional, as well as AI cyberattacks, ensures your sensitive information and private data remains free from harm.
If you would like to take advantage of our extensive list of services, or simply find out more about combatting AI cyberattacks, feel free to contact us today. You can do so at 1300 423 378 (ADEPT) or email us at info@adept-it.com.au.
