AI's Double-Edged Sword in Cybersecurity
In recent months, advanced language models (ALMs) such as ChatGPT, Bard AI, and Chat Sonic have made headlines for their impressive capabilities. However, it's crucial to recognize that these technologies, while revolutionary, also bring about potential risks in the world of cybersecurity.?
Visa's latest biannual threat report for June 2023, compared to its December 2022 edition, includes a noteworthy addition. It features a section titled "Potential Fraudulent Applications of Emerging AI Technologies," shedding light on how threat actors could exploit these ALMs for malicious purposes, including phishing campaigns and the creation of malicious software.
Link to the Report - https://lnkd.in/gqEU9ftf
1. Crafting Sophisticated Phishing Lures:?ALMs can produce text with flawless grammar and spelling, posing a substantial challenge to conventional security protocols to spot and thwart phishing attempts.These AI-generated messages may also employ language designed to induce a sense of urgency, a classic social engineering tactic favored by cybercriminals.
2. Emulating Human Emotions and Logic: Some AI models can produce text that closely mimics human emotions and reasoning. This capability opens the door for threat actors to impersonate reputable organizations, like financial institutions, to obtain sensitive information such as one-time passwords (OTPs). Additionally, they can use this AI-generated content in voice phishing (vishing) campaigns, further compromising security.
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3. Automating Phishing Campaigns: Advanced AI programs like Auto-GPT can streamline the process of generating prompts for ALMs. This means that threat actors can utilize these tools alongside bots to automatically create and disseminate phishing campaigns with minimal manual intervention. This automation significantly increases the scale and efficiency of their fraudulent activities.
4. Developing Malicious Software: ALMs like ChatGPT can be harnessed by threat actors to develop malware and assist in the creation of malicious code. This malware could potentially execute digital skimming attacks, targeting unsuspecting users to steal their payment account credentials.
5. Evading Detection with Polymorphic Malware: AI-powered programs can generate polymorphic malware, which can automatically change its digital signature to avoid detection by security systems. Additionally, these AI tools enable the creation of SMS bots, flooding victims' devices with messages in a Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Fatigue attack to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized access.
In an era of constant technological evolution, staying informed about emerging risks is paramount. It's essential to remain vigilant against these potential threats and prioritize robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive data and systems.