AI in Cybersecurity: Threats and Defenses in the Digital Age

AI or artificial intelligence is the latest buzz in town and the newest fascination. From

working employees to content creators, developers, businesses and investors everyone has

been interpreting this new dimension of innovation according to their own theories and

attempting to utilize this for their benefit. However, the fascination towards AI fades into a

nightmare when we realize the potential of cyber threat that was only a part of fiction till

now.

AI technology has been improving with every passing second and the deeper we dig

into the AI world the more we delve into a whole new realm of cyber threat. Hackers and

phishers over the internet are exploring all new methods to manipulate cybersecurity that we have never experienced before. Nevertheless, it is not all gloomy regarding AI. If AI as a sword works for hackers it can also be used as a shield to protect us against these threats. It would not be hyperbolic to say that AI is both a cyber threat and a defence against cybercrime.

AI as a cyber-threat

AI as a threat to humanity in general has been portrayed since ages throughout sci-fi movies

and books which is still debatable even at this point of AI evolution. However AI as a cyber-

the threat is prominent. AI as a cyber threat is not fictional but a fact and we are aware of these threats. Some AI tools such as ChatGPT can write codes on their own thus they can create quite sophisticated phishing attacks. We also have witnessed deep fake videos that can lead us into unchartered territory of global conflict if used by criminal minds. It can visually impersonate any personality and alter the course of events. AI can analyze and collect data in a quite huge amount and very quickly to find loopholes and vulnerabilities in any system. It can generate all new hacking tools and conduct attacks on a massive level affecting millions of people within seconds. Although we are aware of these threats yet possibilities are endless.

AI as a defence against cybercrime

On one side where AI as a threat is more apparent and stories of threat are more appealing on the flipside, AI as a shield against cybercrime is less visible and comparatively less talked

about. However, as we used to say diamonds cut diamonds AI can prevent threats of AI and

other cybercrimes. AI can analyze large amounts of data swiftly and detect potential threats

faster. It can detect abnormal behaviour to save your computer and phones and prevent zero-day attacks. It can automate many security processes such as patch management to reduce your needs towards multiple security tools. It can secure authentication to prevent online frauds and it can detect phishing attacks, it can enhance network security as well.

Conclusion

With every tick gone by, AI appears with a new facade which sometimes is grotesque and

sometimes beautiful. However, it is undebatable that AI comes with enormous possibilities to go deep into our internet and systems to alter its course for good and for the worse. For us AI could be a demon or angel depending upon how we utilize the potential.