Anatomy of an AI Attack: Understanding the Threats and How to Defend

Undoubtedly, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming various sectors and boosting productivity as well as impacting our everyday lives. As much as it presents new avenues for attacks, it also puts an emerging threat of AI-powered cyberattacks at risk. When targeting systems, AI capabilities are used much more efficiently than traditional attacks and often circumvent the security programs in place. Hence, knowing the ins and outs of an AI attack is necessary if one is to be able to mitigate these threats. In this blog, we will understand the framework of AI attacks, the kinds of threats, and the right measures to protect your systems.

What is AI Attack?

AI attack is a type of attack that targets, infiltrates, or disrupts computer systems or computer networks through the usage of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. In comparison with traditional attacks, AI-enabled threats go beyond these limitations where they are adaptive and able to perform attacks autonomously without human action. AI is put to work when attacking, be it searching for weaknesses, tailoring phishing attacks, or social engineering, which makes it difficult for businesses and people to defend themselves.

Steps Involved in AI Attacks

To defend against AI attacks, knowing the general process of AI attacks which has been broken into smaller components will come in handy. The following components are part of every AI attack:

? Reconnaissance: In this second stage, the AIs perform reconnaissance by gathering more details about the target. This stage involves the exploitation of maps of the targets’ networks, scanning for weaknesses, and analyzing user activity patterns. With AI tools, this phase becomes easier, faster, and more accurate allowing attackers to get an extensive view of their targets’ environment.

? Initial Compromise: The attackers in this stage, with the relevant details gathered in the previous step, deploy AI solutions and launch system vulnerability exploits. This could mean deploying Malware that self-customizes to the different environments or performing phishing attacks that employ AI systems to manipulate individuals into exposing private details. The AI is in a constant learning environment and thus gets better at executing attacks each time.

? Lateral Movement: After gaining access to the initial target, the AI-powered attackers then used their AI to move around the system to different targets. The intelligence of AI gives users better functionality of horizontally advancing in the system without triggering alarms and consequently accessing essential files, databases and control points in the system.

? Exfiltration or Disruption: In the last process, the final goal is either to extract important and sensitive information or disrupt systems. Even in these cases, AI enhances the projects by quickly spotting what the most valuable information is and how best to move that information without alerting anyone. Or, AI malware for instance will plan and conduct an efficient disruptive activity, such as ransomware or a denial-of-service (DoS) attack.

Read More: Cyber Mitigates Threats- Lock it down, protect it up.

Types of AI Attacks

This type of attack also includes various types which exploit different systems' weaknesses. Below are some of the most notable types:

? AI-Powered Phishing: Such attack, where users become victims, does exist and is called AI-Powered phishing. AI systems study user behaviour and learn how to study and mimic users by sending targeted emails for instance, making the attack possible.

? Adversarial Attacks: While Adversarial attacks are a form of breach, the AI systems are usually attacked by sending them bad data. Adversarial attacks occur when other individuals distort images or have other data format text. Or images which they could simply confuse an AI system and make it make mistakes, or confuse it into doing something else, for instance, develop loopholes into recognised face security systems or spam detection systems.

? Deepfake Technology: Another example of social engineering is the so-called deepfakes. Although these deepfakes sound more like fake stories, the fact is that they portray unrealistic but false images with the help of AI technologies, and it's no surprise individuals always find themselves being faked. As discussed above fake videos and audio are becoming the new norm, as they are often used to impersonate someone in a video call which makes the chances of compromising business interactions much easier.

? AI-Driven Malware: AI-powered malware evolves with its surroundings and propagates by itself while dodging detection. These types of malware develop the ability to be steered away from various anti-virus measures and adapt according to security features making them more ominous than normal malware.

Read More: E-commerce security threats: Understanding Security Threats

How to Defend Against AI Attacks

The first thing that can be done is to know how an AI attack functions. Some of these recommendations come with practical strategies and defence templets to mitigate the risk against your systems:

Implement Advanced Threat Detection Systems

AI attacks cannot be detected by legacy security infrastructure, advanced threat detection systems that incorporate AI and machine learning should be deployed to detect abnormal activity or behaviour. Such systems tap into self-learning to recognize new threats over time.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA adds a barrier that must be overcome to compromise logins which also means a better login security: even if such credentials are obtained breaking in becomes a significant challenge. The combination of AI-based detection combined with MFA makes high-scale phishing very difficult to execute in practice.

Regular Security Audits and Vulnerability Scanning

Make sure that periodic security and vulnerability scans are performed on your network so that any weaknesses are identified and remediated in advance of the infiltrators. AI-powered security tools can scan for these vulnerabilities as tasks such as these can be automated and will cover a wide area and provide insights into vulnerabilities in your network.

Educate Employees on AI-Driven Threats

It is also significant for organizations to train employees to avoid AI phishing and social engineering attacks. Staff should be taught how to avoid falling into the trap of fake messages, deepfakes, and AI methods of attacks. Their skills can also be enhanced through periodic workshops and exercises.

Deploy AI-Based Defense Solutions

Employ AI to counter AI attacks by installing AI-based cyber security systems which operate independently and neutralise threats. Such solutions are designed to sift through massive amounts of data in real time spot outliers and thwart potential attacks before they occur.

The Future of AI Attacks: What to Expect

AI attacks have always transformed over time. They are gradually becoming an integral part of every advanced attack campaign. Here are some trends to watch:

? More AI in Automated Attacks: The assumption here is that cybercriminals will deploy even more automated Crow attacks through AI, where multiple systems will be hit at once but in a coordinated manner.

? Changing Adversarial Tactics: AI attacks will always exist in many forms. Improving AI defences will force attackers into deploying new types of adversarial tactics which bypass such measures. Expect more traces of AI in devious strategies such as AIs predicting security protocols and stiffing them.

? Social Engineering 2.0: A new wave of social engineering attacks is predicted as AI systems generate messages or even deepfake those individuals to devise and completely impersonate trusted persons to build messages that would appear to be derived from them.

Read More: What is an intruder in cyber security: Navigating Threats

Conclusion

AI-generated threats are getting out of hand. One would require understanding the impact, mechanics and also the best defense strategies and these strategies need to be strong. With enhanced AI-based defence systems, regular internal security reviews and training of employees all in place, an organization can be ready to tackle modern-day AI threats.