Role of ArtificiaI Intelligence in Cyber Security

Introduction

Whenever we speak of the advancements in artificial intelligence, at least some of us think of a horrific future where machines take over the world. But instead of hostility, have you ever thought of how beneficial it is to use AI to prevent some of the very real threats the cyber world faces today?

Anticipation of threats is an area where our cyber world constantly needs help. With the help of artificial intelligence, many of the top companies in cybersecurity have come up with solutions to curb threats before it even surfaces.

The introduction of 5G network, our world is going to be even more connected than ever before. This article will look into ways how AI helps in ensuring our security, enrich our productivity, and create a smarter world to live in.

Evolving Cyber Security and the role of AI in it

Every known industry now used some version of smart devices to collect data. Data from sensors – light, speed, weight, sound, heat or any other sensory data is measured to create information to work with. Form healthcare to military, this data is used to improvise their respective systems.

• An example of this would be a dialysis machine that measures the flow of fluids in a patient’s body and adjusts the pace to balance the functioning of the patient’s kidneys.
• Another example could be a smart missile that automatically guides itself in the direction of a target.

All these actions require some form of data from sensors and decisions be made based on it. Smart devices use the power of AI to improvise the system and constantly work to develop the system towards more favorable outcomes.

It’s this tendency to improvise based on data that people have come to fear in recent times. But truth be told, much of what we’ve developed have only helped in improving our lifestyle and not towards a hostile takeover by machines.

One thing to note here is that the machine learning technology deployed in these machines has a correlation with the security of the device and any data being collected.

With increased connectivity, it has become increasingly important to have AI support that could check on such threats to data handling and ensure systems are safe from any cyber or attacks, scams and phishing.

Hackers and their take on Artificial Intelligence

We’ve established how intelligent systems use data gathered from devices to create a smart environment around us. Much of what Artificial intelligence helps devices to improve is through interpreting data the right way.

The enormous amount of data that’s often collected is sent to cloud servers to create meaningful decisions. Decisions that often requires interpreting, analyzing and making sense out of unintelligible data.

This transfer of data is where security is needed at its best, as bad players can always find ways to cut in to this information. illegitimate hacking such as this can cause serious risks to privacy and is a growing threat in the Internet industry as a whole.

AI in this case accelerates the efforts of cybersecurity teams to weed out chances that could otherwise compromise the integrity of data handling. Ethical hackers find their relevance in fighting against external risks and threats to data collection and future-proofing the system.

How AI Cyber Security weeds out Phishing

Internet has become the world’s meeting place. Just like real world, the world’s biggest virtual marketplace also has its share of thieves, con men and bad actors.

AI systems developed by cyber security experts often work round the clock to analyze patterns of scams and get smarter by the day. Misguiding users and retrieving their personal data, money etc. through questionable texts, phone calls, and other services is called Phishing.

The story of online phishing is as old as the internet itself. But then, AI firewalls and other robust systems developed by network security teams ensure that no personal data is transferred through these questionable websites or services.

These security systems are often armed with tools to signal the user about potential risks and steer clear of doubtful websites. These systems are often downloadable to all your devices such as PCs and mobile phones and greatly reduce threats of phishing.

Role of AI to safeguard you from Identity Theft

You may have notice how your website or social media handle asks you to confirm or change your password from time to time. This is AI working in your favor to ensure your security.

Internet has become so complicated and has made it easier to track down personal data by hackers. Since we log into so much of the modern day platforms, it is fairly simple to forget to log out from any one of them at any given time.

Hackers often target for such credentials which haven’t changed in a while, so every platform advices you to review and change them. Another way AI works in your favor is to ask the user to insert their password after a set number of hours of logging in.

Some accounts even ask to confirm the password or code sent to the user’s respective email address or phone. Thus, AI enabled cyber solutions work around us more than we realize their presence in our day-to-day interactions.

To wrap up

Internet was made for the world to share information. At no point in this transaction should it be used to risk a user’s privacy. That’s how we ensure a truly democratized internet.

Countries have even passed laws to restrict access to data being used by companies even. GDPR and CCPA are some of the modern day laws implemented by governments to curb websites from accessing personal data and sharing them without the user’s express permission.

All of this wouldn’t be possible when the internet gets complicated unless cybersecurity uses the power of AI to keep up with the internet.

Thankfully, we now have robust systems being developed on a regular basis that’s much stronger than their predecessors and ensures that our cybersecurity teams are ready to take on the new age risks and threats, whatever they may be.