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  • AI-Empowered Cyberattacks Prompt Businesses to Revamp Cybersecurity Tactics: Insights from Kaspersky

    AI-Empowered Cyberattacks Prompt Businesses to Revamp Cybersecurity Tactics: Insights from Kaspersky

    The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is necessitating a significant shift in business cybersecurity protocols. The evolving landscape of cyber threats is becoming increasingly complex due to the swift adoption of AI. Previously, successful cyberattacks required substantial planning and advanced technical proficiency, but AI has streamlined the process, decreasing the entry-level threshold for novice cyber threats.

    The Impact of AI on Cyber Threats

    AI has revolutionized the modus operandi of experienced cyber attackers, offering them speed and efficiency. Furthermore, it has also armed less skilled individuals with new capabilities. Vladislav Tushkanov, group manager at an AI technology research center, explains that AI technology allows both skilled and unskilled individuals to expedite their operations. Novice cyber attackers, who were previously required to spend extensive amounts of time learning programming, can now efficiently execute cyber threats.

    AI is being employed to create sophisticated phishing emails, imitated voices, images, and videos that are convincing and challenging to identify. Deepfakes have become an emerging hazard in the corporate world. An engineering firm in the UK reportedly suffered a loss of approximately US$25 million in 2024 when an employee was tricked into transferring funds due to a deepfake video call.

    AI’s capabilities extend beyond deepfakes and can support various stages of cyberattacks, such as reconnaissance, message customization, and evading detection by security systems.

    AI: A Double-edged Sword

    According to recent research, 72% of businesses express grave concerns regarding cyber attackers’ utilization of AI. Traditional defensive measures struggle to counter rapidly evolving and unpredictable threats. Simultaneously, AI proves to be an essential asset for bolstering cybersecurity. It allows organizations to detect threats with greater speed, mechanize aspects of the response procedure, and improve predictive abilities, thereby shifting from a reactive to a proactive security strategy.

    “To effectively manage the increasing number of alerts and to prevent analysts from becoming overwhelmed, machine learning is essential. It copes efficiently with these tasks and allows professionals to focus on complex or business-critical tasks,” Tushkanov said.

    However, the successful incorporation of AI in cybersecurity involves more than just technology. Businesses also require skilled personnel, practical implementation experience, and a solid data foundation.

    The Role of AI in Incident Investigation and Decision Making

    According to sources, AI is currently used to analyze and classify around 460,000 malware samples daily. This, combined with proprietary data, processing methods, and model training infrastructure, forms the foundation of increasingly complex cybersecurity strategies.

    Despite the significant advances of AI, it is not yet equipped to replace human expertise in incident investigation and decision-making processes. Risk assessments and response strategies still heavily depend on professional judgment. “At this point, the human role remains essential,” Tushkanov said, implying that while AI systems might support decision-making in the future, they cannot replace the need for human expertise.

    Questions & Answers

    Q: How has AI impacted cyber threats?
    A: AI has streamlined the process of executing cyber threats, reducing the need for substantial planning and advanced technical skills. It has made it easier for less experienced individuals to launch successful cyberattacks.

    Q: What is the role of AI in cybersecurity?
    A: AI plays a crucial role in enhancing cybersecurity. It allows organizations to detect threats quickly, automate parts of the response process, and enhance predictive capabilities.

    Q: Can AI replace human expertise in incident investigation and decision-making?
    A: Currently, AI cannot replace the need for human judgment in risk assessment and response strategy formulation. Despite the significant advances in AI, human expertise remains essential in incident investigation and decision-making processes.

  • Most cybercrime losses not fully recovered

    Most cybercrime losses not fully recovered

    Each year thousands of internet users fall victim to a cybercrime that leaves them out of pocket. Research from Kaspersky Lab reveals that over half (52%) of internet users who’ve lost money at the hands of cybercriminals have only got some, or none, of their stolen funds back.

    With the variety and sophistication of online financial threats against consumers growing, losses from online fraud, identity theft and hacking are now running at billions a year. And with many cases going unreported, the true economic cost is likely to be significantly higher.

    The research reveals how costly these attacks are for internet users, and how lucrative they’ve become for cybercriminals. On average, internet users lose $476 per attack and one-in-ten people surveyed said they lost more than $5,000.

    A large majority of internet users say they conduct financial operations online (81%) and just under half (44%) store financial data on their connected devices.

    As more users go online to manage their finances, more cybercriminals are looking for opportunities to cash in, making it important for users to have robust internet security in place to protect themselves and their money. Nevertheless, only 60% of internet users protect all their devices.

    Attitudes to online safety could be influenced by users mistakenly thinking lost money will be automatically refunded to them. Almost half (45%) say that they assume they will be reimbursed by banks for financial cybercrime without any problems, but as the survey shows, over half (52%) of people affected haven’t had all their stolen money returned.

    “Cybercriminals are continually looking for new ways to exploit and defraud consumers and that’s why it’s important for internet users to be on their guard at all times,” says Vyacheslav Zakorzhevsky, Head of the Anti-Malware Research Team at Kaspersky Lab.

    “Cybercriminals can conduct financial crimes via malware, phishing and more. Don’t assume you will always get all your money back if you become a target and funds are stolen from you. The best way to safeguard your finances online is to make sure you don’t become a victim, and for that we recommend specialist software that protects your identity and keeps sensitive data out of the hands of the cybercriminals.”

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