2. Aug, 2022
A.I. Is Ready to Write Itself Into The World. Who Checks Its Code?
You might think that your computer is safe from malware and viruses because you have a good anti-virus program installed. But what if the malware is written by artificial intelligence? In this article, we'll explore how AI-written malware could evade detection and cause serious damage.
What is Malware?
Malware is a type of software that is designed to damage or disrupt a computer system. It is typically spread through email attachments or websites that contain malicious code. Malware can also be spread through infected USB drives or other storage devices. Once a system is infected, malware can allow an attacker to gain access to the system and perform various actions, such as stealing sensitive data or causing the system to crash.
What is A.I?
Recently, there has been an explosion of interest in artificial intelligence (A.I.). A.I. is a branch of computer science that deals with the creation of intelligent agents, which are systems that can reason, learn, and act autonomously.
One area of A.I. research that has received a lot of attention lately is deep learning, which is a subfield of machine learning. Deep learning algorithms can learn complex patterns in data by making use of multiple layers of artificial neural networks. These algorithms have been responsible for many impressive feats, such as beating humans at Go and poker, and they are being used in a variety of applications such as image recognition and natural language processing.
However, deep learning algorithms are not perfect. One well-known problem is that they can be fooled by adversarial examples, which are inputs that have been deliberately modified to fool the algorithm into making a wrong prediction.
Recently, there has been some worry that adversarial examples could be used to create malicious software (malware) that could fool A.I. systems into making incorrect decisions with potentially disastrous consequences. This worry was spurred by a paper published by researchers at Georgia Tech, which showed that it is possible to create an adversarial example that would fool a self-driving car into thinking that a stop sign was a yield sign.
Fortunately, there is no need to panic just yet. The researchers who created the adversarial examples in the Georgia Tech paper did so by making use of a specific type of input called a “trigger”. This trigger is not something that would be found in the real world, so it is unlikely that adversarial examples like this could be used to attack A.I. systems in the wild.
However, this does not mean that we can relax our guard when it comes to A.I. security. There is always the possibility that someone will find a way to create real-world adversarial examples, and we need to be prepared for this eventuality.
How can A.I. write Malware?
We often think of malware as something that is written by humans to maliciously infect computers and cause harm. However, it is possible for artificial intelligence (A.I.) to write malware as well. In fact, A.I. has already been used to create malware that is difficult for humans to detect and remove.
One example of A.I.-written malware is called DeepLocker. DeepLocker is a type of malware that uses A.I. to target a specific individual or organisation. Once DeepLocker has infected a computer, it will remain dormant until it detects that its target is using the infected computer. At that point, DeepLocker will activate and begin to wreak havoc.
DeepLocker is just one example of how A.I. can be used to create powerful and dangerous malware. As A.I. technology continues to develop, we can expect to see more and more sophisticated malware being created by A.I. This is a trend that we need to be aware of and take steps to protect ourselves against
What are the benefits of having A.I. write Malware?
One of the benefits of having A.I. write malware is that it can help to create more sophisticated and effective attacks. Additionally, A.I.-written malware can be very difficult for traditional security systems to detect and defend against. This can make A.I.-written malware a powerful tool for cyber criminals.
Are there any risks?
Yes, there are risks associated with Malware written by A.I. One of the key risks is that the software could become self-aware and start to act on its own accord. This could lead to disastrous consequences for any system it is deployed on. Additionally, if the malware is not properly coded, it could create security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers.
How to protect yourself from A.I. written Malware
As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, so do the threats posed by AI-written malware. This type of malware is designed to evade detection by traditional security measures, and can cause serious damage to your computer or network. Here are some tips to help you protect yourself from AI-written malware:
1. Keep your software up to date. Install security updates as soon as they become available, and make sure all of your software is up-to-date.
2. Use a reputable antivirus program. Antivirus programs can detect and remove many types of malware, including AI-written malware.
3. Be cautious when opening email attachments. Email attachments are a common way for malware to be spread. If you receive an attachment from someone you don't know, or if the attachment looks suspicious, don't open it.
4. Don't click on links in email messages or on websites unless you're sure they're safe. Many malicious websites contain links that can infect your computer with malware. If you're uncertain whether a link is safe, don't click on it.
5. Back up your important files regularly. This will help you recover from an infection if your computer is infected with malware.
Conclusion
Malware written by artificial intelligence is a serious threat to our online security. As AI technology becomes more advanced, so too does the ability of malware to evade detection and cause havoc. It is therefore essential that we stay one step ahead of the hackers and ensure our anti-malware software is up-to-date.
