2. Aug, 2022
What Happens When Artificial Intelligence Writes Malware? Article written by:Hussein Farhat
How AI Writing Tools Are The Next Big Threat To Cybersecurity
Recently, many software developers have been turning to artificial intelligence, in the hopes that these programs can finish off some of the more difficult coding tasks. While it's true that AI has helped to streamline processes for many companies and individuals, organisations are now starting to worry about whom all this automation is benefiting- and who could take advantage of it.
Introduction
Artificial intelligence (AI) writing tools are quickly becoming the next big threat to cybersecurity. These tools can automatically generate convincing, well-written articles that are difficult to distinguish from those written by humans. This makes it easy for cyber criminals to spread false information and propagate propaganda.
AI writing tools also have the potential to be used for targeted cyberattacks. For example, an AI tool could be used to generate a phishing email that looks identical to a legitimate email from a trusted company. This could trick people into clicking on a malicious link or attachment, leading to a data breach or malware infection.
Cybersecurity professionals need to be aware of the growing threat posed by AI writing tools and take steps to protect their organisations from these attacks.
How AI Tools Can Be Used To Write Malware
As artificial intelligence (AI) writing tools become more sophisticated, they could be used by malicious actors to write malware that is difficult for humans to detect.
AI-written malware could evade traditional security measures that rely on detecting specific patterns of code. This means that organisations need to be aware of the possibility of AI-written malware and put in place appropriate defences.
One way to defend against AI-written malware is to use AI tools yourself to analyse code and look for suspicious patterns. However, this is an arms race that may be difficult to win. The best defence against AI-written malware may be a combination of human and machine analysis.
AI Resources and Learning Material
In the world of cybersecurity, there is always a new threat on the horizon. And it seems that lately, that threat has been AI-powered writing tools.
These tools are becoming increasingly sophisticated and can generate realistic-looking articles, complete with grammar and style errors. This can be used to create phishing emails or websites that look legitimate, but are actually malicious.
Cybersecurity experts are concerned that these tools will become more widespread and difficult to detect. As they become more sophisticated, they will become a serious threat to cybersecurity.
Writing Malware With These Tools
As AI writing tools become more advanced, they could be used by malware authors to create more convincing and effective attacks. These tools can generate text that is difficult for humans to tell apart from real writing, making it harder to detect malicious content. Additionally, AI-generated text can be used to create customised phishing attacks that are highly targeted and difficult to block.
Cybersecurity experts need to be aware of the potential threat that AI writing tools pose and take steps to protect against these kinds of attacks. Some measures that could be taken include developing algorithms to detect AI-generated text, increasing awareness of the issue among users, and developing better ways to filter out malicious content.
The Costs of Malware Written With AI
The costs of malware written with AI are already starting to be felt by businesses and consumers alike. And, experts say, the potential for mischief is only going to increase as more writing tools incorporating AI become available.
One recent example of AI-written malware is the WannaCry ransomware that wreaked havoc on computer systems around the world in May 2017. That malware was reportedly written using an AI tool called DeepMind, and it was very effective at encrypting data and demanding ransom payments.
While the WannaCry attack caused significant financial damage, it is just a taste of what is possible with AI-written malware. Cybersecurity expert Bruce Schneier has warned that we are "defenseless" against AI-written malware, and it's not hard to see why.
Unlike traditional malware, which is typically created by a human being and then modified by trial and error, AI-written malware can rapidly evolve and mutate to evade detection. It can also be designed to specifically target individual users or businesses, making it much more difficult to protect against.
