Artificial intelligence is an ever-evolving subject; year by year, its landscape is expanding to different industries, and the outcome of its optimization is noteworthy.
One of the prominent tech giants, Microsoft, has invested a total number of $13 billion in OpenAI, to acquire a stake in OpenAI. OpenAI will integrate its GPT language models into Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing platform, headquartered in Redmond, Washington.
It’s no wonder that, because of the adoption of AI, the Global GDP rate will grow by $15.7 trillion 2030.
When we talk about AI in cybersecurity, it has left a remarkable impact, resulting in highly secured and robust digital infrastructures.
But, at the same time, AI-powered tools are getting misused for phishing, cyber scams, and other fraudulent activities. Unlike earlier, it’s quite challenging to catch the unusual activities as exploiters barely leave any chance by replicating bonafide methods of reaching users and manipulating them.
According to Miliefsky, by the year 2025, cyberattacks are projected to incur damages totaling $1.2 trillion in theft and damages annually by 2025 (about 1% global gdp), marking a threefold surge from the levels recorded in 2018.
Having seen the adverse usage of AI in cybersecurity makes it imperative for us to discuss surefire solutions for dealing with these AI phishing attacks, which are growing vigorously in cybersecurity. By implementing these solutions, you can permanently eliminate the risk of phishing attacks.
In-depth Understanding of AI Phishing Attacks
AI phishing attacks are nothing but the utilization of AI-powered tools for exploiting sensitive data to make it more personalized, manipulative, and sophisticated, which makes the act of deceiving users much easier. It is usually done in various ways such as:
- ChatGPT is a prime example of crafting highly personalized messages based on users’ online interactions with search engines and applications.
- Through (NLG) natural language generation, AI can help attackers create human-like text that appears to be more authentic when readers go through it.
- AI is capable of fetching data on potential targets based on their online behavior and social media handles.
- AI-driven phishing attacks are capable of adapting their content to the recipients’ responses. If a recipient is caught showing interest in phishing emails, then AI generates more devious messages as a follow-up to manipulate recipients.
- AI-powered tools are consistently exploited by attackers to collect sensitive data, such as users’ passwords. Machine learning algorithms extract information through phishing emails and help attackers obtain unauthorized access to users’ accounts.
Shield-like Robust AI Solutions to Fend off AI Phishing Attacks
Cybercrimes are surging at an unstoppable pace. Having apt security professionals working against them doesn’t suffice to prevent them from roots. Harnessing AI against AI is the end solution.
If committing fraudulent activities like AI phishing emails is impossible for attackers to perform merely using human skills, then defending the same requires AI assistance, too.
This brings us to discuss the strategies created with a multifaceted approach that is a merger of AI-oriented technical methodologies and human vigilance.
Email Filtering
Even though attackers incorporate AI-driven tools in phishing attacks to manipulate recipients, organizations are still able to catch them with the help of email filtering. These systems adopt machine learning algorithms that quickly detect abnormalities or suspicious patterns, be it AI-based or done by any human.
Sender Authentication
With AI, enterprises can implement email authentication protocols like DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM), Sender Policy Framework (SPF), and Domain-based message authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC). These protocols are adept when it comes to thoroughly authenticating the sender’s identity.
Anti-phishing Training
Other than implementing robust AI cybersecurity tools, organizations are responsible for training their employees to identify and analyze phishing mails, which should definitely encompass AI phishing mails as well. Enlightening them about prevailing frauds in cyberspace and enabling them to recognize the legitimacy of malicious mail is indispensable.
Behavioral Analysis
AI offers many behavioral analysis methodologies through its tools that are of great help for businesses. Optimizing such tools reduces the risk of vulnerabilities relatively. Here are the most used tools.
Behavirol Analysis Tools:
- UserGuiding
- Mouseflow
- Mixpanel
- FullStory
- CleverTap
URL Filtering
With artificial intelligence, you can implement URL filtering solutions that instantly detect a link that contains harmful content. These AI-based solutions also help organizations blacklist suspicious spam mail, reputation scores, and real-time analysis to determine the reliability of URLs.
URL Filtering Tools:
- DNSFilter, Inc.
- Symantec logo
- Cisco
- WebTitan
- Forcepoint
- Fortiguard
- Webroot
Other Strategic Security Practices
Keeping your digital infrastructure adaptive to the latest cybersecurity trends is the first and foremost thing you can do to keep cybersecurity attackers at bay. If exploiters are leaving no chance to manipulate users with the help of AI, then it’s a prime responsibility as an individual and as an enterprise to combat AI with AI!
Additionally, an incident response plan must always be prepared to take immediate action. This plan must comprise procedures for investigating and containing security breaches, as well as steps for communicating with affected parties.
It’s a Wrap
Even though AI in cybersecurity is being exploited by attackers, its optimization can keep phishing attacks at bay. Artificial intelligence and machine learning based cybersecurity systems are more apt at examining communication patterns and catching abnormalities that are often unnoticed otherwise.
Making employees aware of threat intelligence and AI-oriented breaches is the need of an hour. AI is often mistaken for being used to help industries evolve at a great pace with a streamlined and automated process, which is surely true. But then there are exploiters that misuse its intelligence and automation to commit crimes smartly.
Our purpose is to illuminate the significance of security amongst everyone and to eliminate the misuse of artificial intelligence.
About the Author
Sarrah Pitaliya, the Vice President of Marketing at ZeroThreat, is a dynamic and agile leader in the field of marketing. With a keen focus on driving tangible results, Sarrah specializes in crafting intent-driven content strategies that contribute to a robust return on investment (ROI) and brand building.
Sarrah’s strategic approach relies on cultivating powerful, purpose-driven brand relationships and implementing customer-centric digital strategies. Her leadership style is characterized by a commitment to winning in the experience-led market, ensuring that ZeroThreat remains at the forefront of innovation and effectiveness in the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity.
Sarrah can be reached online at [email protected] and at our company website https://zerothreat.ai/