Today, we find ourselves at the intersection of

unprecedented technological advancement and equally

unprecedented threats. Cyber espionage is no longer a
concept confined to the realms of science fiction; it is a
stark reality that affects our governments, corporations,
and personal lives.
In 2023 alone, cybercrime cost the world over $6 trillion
annually, making it the third largest economy if it were a
country. This astronomical figure underscores the gravity
of the threats we face.
One might wonder, how do these malicious actors manage
to infiltrate our systems? The answer lies in the very
technology we rely on daily. Artificial Intelligence (AI),
while a powerful tool for innovation and progress, is also
being weaponized for malicious purposes. AI-driven
cyber-attacks can identify vulnerabilities in systems at
speeds and scales impossible for humans to match.
But let me share a story to bring this closer to home. In
2020, a major American healthcare provider was targeted
by a sophisticated cyber espionage campaign. The
attackers, using AI algorithms, were able to bypass
security protocols and access sensitive patient records,
compromising the personal information of millions. The
aftermath was devastating, not just financially, but
emotionally for the victims whose privacy was irreparably
breached.
However, in the same breath, AI is also our most potent
weapon against these threats. Automating cyber defense
through AI can transform our approach to cybersecurity.
Traditional methods, reliant on human intervention, are
often too slow and limited in scope. In contrast, AI can
analyze vast amounts of data in real-time, detect
anomalies, and respond to threats instantaneously.
Consider the case of Darktrace, a company founded by
mathematicians from the University of Cambridge. Using
AI, Darktrace developed an "immune system" for
networks that mimics the human body's response to
threats. This system identifies and neutralizes cyber
threats autonomously, significantly reducing the response
time and mitigating potential damage. In one instance,
Darktrace's AI thwarted an attempted data breach within
seconds, an intervention that would have been impossible
with human-only oversight.
The power of AI in cyber defense is undeniable.
According to a report by Capgemini, 69% of
organizations acknowledge that AI is essential for
responding to cyber threats. Moreover, companies using
AI in their security operations see a 60% improvement in
their ability to detect and respond to breaches.
So, what can we do to safeguard our digital world? Invest
in AI-Driven Cyber Defense: Organizations must
prioritize investments in AI technologies that enhance
cybersecurity. This includes adopting AI systems that can
autonomously detect and respond to threats in real-time.
Implement Strong Regulations and Standards:
Governments and international bodies need to establish
and enforce stringent cybersecurity regulations. These
regulations should mandate the use of advanced
technologies, including AI, to protect critical
infrastructure.
Foster Collaboration: Cybersecurity is a global issue that
requires a united effort. Governments, private sector
organizations, and cybersecurity experts must collaborate
to share information, resources, and best practices.
Educate and Train: It is essential to educate and train our
workforce on the latest cybersecurity practices and AI
technologies. By building a knowledgeable and vigilant
workforce, we can better defend against evolving cyber
threats.
Promote Ethical AI Development: AI systems should be
developed with ethical considerations in mind. This
includes transparency in AI algorithms and ensuring that
these technologies are not used for malicious purposes.
With technological advancements in the cyberspace,
cybersecurity faces new problems. Some problems have
existed for decades, but cybersecurity experts need to find
new ways to defend networks from existing problems.
Two of the existing problems are botnets, that are used to
launch Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, and
IDPS that generate large numbers of false alarms which
distract cybersecurity experts from finding real threats. A
botnet is a network of computers and other devices which
are referred to as bots. Computers that are part of a botnet
connect to it by malware infection. After the infection in
launched, a “botmaster” sends commands to the bots via a
network channel. Usually, the botmaster encrypts the
channel to avoid detection. The botmaster uses a
Command and a Control (C&C) server to push commands
and patches. Botnets play a major role in DDoS attacks.
In fact, the larger the botnet, the more effective the DDoS
attack will be. Additionally, botnets are also used for
identity theft and stealing data (Mathur, Raheja, &
Ahlawat 2018). In 2016, the Mirai malware infected
Internet of Things (IoT) devices and created a botnet that
connected approximately 500,000 IoT devices together.
The botnet was used to unleash devastating DDoS attacks
on sites and services (De Donno, Dragoni, Giaretta, and
Spognardi 2018). In addition, Mirai malware is open
source, which means that other cybercriminals may add
new features to the malware and create new variations of
Mirai. AI has the capability to detect botnets inside
networks. The detection of botnets will help prevent the
infection of more devices and stop DDoS attacks, and
data leakage An IDPS is a technology that network and
system administrators use to detect intrusions. After the
IDPS detects intrusion, the authorized administrators may
receive email alerts. This technology not only detects
intrusions but also prevents intrusions when an attacker
tries to gain unauthorized access to a network (Whitman
and Mattord 2017). To achieve a higher security level,
network administrators need to properly configure IDPS
tools. Developers have created hardware and software-
based Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems.
Network administrators may install a system on a host,
which they call Host-based IDPS, or on the network,
which they refer to as Network-based IDPS. One of the
main problems is setting up and configuring an IDPS is
time-consuming because a standard configuration does
not exist. Network traffic differs organizations. Due to
that, IDPSs generate many false alerts or “false positives.”
With AI, cybersecurity and network administrators hope
to filter out false alarms and increase detections rate
Yet, for all its promise, we must approach AI in
cybersecurity with caution. The same algorithms that
protect us can be manipulated if they fall into the wrong
hands. Therefore, ethical considerations and stringent
regulations are crucial to ensure that AI serves the greater
good.
As we stand on this precipice of potential and peril, it is
our collective responsibility to harness AI's capabilities
for defense while safeguarding against its misuse. We
must invest in education and training, empowering our
workforce to understand and implement AI-driven
cybersecurity measures. Governments, corporations, and
individuals must collaborate to create a robust defense
network that can adapt to and anticipate the evolving
threat landscape.
In the words of renowned cybersecurity expert Bruce
Schneier, "Security is a process, not a product." This
process demands vigilance, innovation, and a steadfast
commitment to protecting our digital world. Let us
embrace AI as our ally in this ongoing battle, ensuring
that we build a future where technology enhances our
security and not our vulnerabilities.
Thank you.