AI Cyber Malware: Are You Prepared for Emerging AI Cybersecurity Threats?

AI-cyber-malware, a novel and potent threat in the AI era, describes a new breed of AI-based malware. It boasts unique capabilities that set it apart from traditional malware. Let's first familiarize ourselves with some new terms:

AI-cyber-malware: Refers to one or more AI-enabled systems designed to use AI to carry out their objectives. Capable of intelligently attacking systems, writing code, and executing tasks to gain new capabilities, they exploit weaknesses in defenses and rapidly create attack teams with further objectives. AI malware can monitor the latest exploits, learn how to use them, and quickly model strategies to achieve its goals and mission.

AI malware teams: These are one or more AI cyber-malware systems created to complete a sub-task of the main objective and mission. They perform tasks such as reconnaissance, tool building, attack planning, data infiltration, system disruption, and system encryption.

What makes AI cyber malware so dangerous is its speed. Teams of AI malware agents work in cells to achieve their goals, adapt to their target environment, build tools, and gather needed information from the Internet regarding the latest exploits. AI malware will use compromised systems to run cybersecurity exploit-trained AI models, which are proficient in cybersecurity exploits, decision-making, and knowledge application to effectively carry out their mission.

This type of AI malware introduces a set of new problems, with attack speed being a significant challenge. Currently, human-driven approaches are limited by the speed at which humans can progress an attack. However, with AI malware, the speed is only limited by the system's ability to run the AI model. We will see exponential increases in the speed of identifying weaknesses in a victim's defense, creating significant challenges for current cybersecurity practices.

The progression towards a world with AI-based malware is inevitable. Models are freely available and can be easily adapted by training them on information focused on cyber-based crimes. A significant capability of AI cyber malware is its ability to build tools, functions, and capabilities tailored to the victim's environment and systems. Traditionally, crafting such tools for an attack required a human workforce. The speed at which AI-cyber-malware operates is far beyond our current capabilities.

AI cyber malware can impersonate individuals across various channels, including voice, image, video, email, phone, and mobile. This electronic impersonation is a powerful tool for AI cyber malware. For instance, a phone call on your mobile could potentially be from an AI cyber malware agent impersonating a person at your business. The dangerous capabilities of AI cyber malware underscore the urgent need for new approaches and systems to combat this threat.