Jericho Security | Blog

AI-Powered Cyber Attacks & Phishing

Written by Jericho Security Contributor | December 4, 2023

AI-powered cyber attacks on the rise

In recent the last years, many new artificial intelligence-based threats have surfaced. While most of these threats are passive such as fake news, the latest developments are trending towards more active threats. You and your team members could be potential targets for the new guise of phishing emails created with the help of sophisticated AI technology. The struggle is very real and very imminent so in this post, we’ll discuss how AI threats have increased and how to avoid being a victim of it. 

According to a report by SlashNext, there has been a 1,265% increase in malicious phishing emails and a 967% rise in credential phishing since late 2022. This surge is largely attributed to the use of advanced AI tools by cybercriminals to commit AI cyber attacks. These tools, like ChatGPT, are being exploited to craft highly sophisticated and targeted phishing campaigns.

The daily average of phishing attacks now stands at approximately 31,000. The impact on businesses is severe, with BEC (Business Email Compromise) attacks alone resulting in about $2.7 billion in losses in 2022.

 

So, what do AI cyber attacks mean for us?

As Chris Steffen of Enterprise Management Associates puts it, the days of easily spotted phishing emails are gone. Today's attacks are highly convincing, often imitating the styles of trusted sources or even colleagues. That is why you need to be aware of all the different forms of artificial intelligence cyber attacks

How AI can help in cyber security and what can we do to prevent AI-powered cyber attacks?

Besides knowing that hackers are using AI, there are some practical steps you can take to avoid anyone in your company becoming a victim of such AI cyber attacks. We list 3 actionable points you can focus on to be prepared against AI cybercrime.

1. Continuous end-user education is key; organizations must build a security-aware culture. 

This will help employees be more aware of how AI and phishing can be a deadly combination when it comes to enterprise-level security.

2. Implementation of AI and machine learning-driven simulation practices is crucial to staying ahead of evolving threats. Train your team’s eyes to be able to spot any AI threat to cyber security

3. Regular testing for vulnerabilities, along with enhancement of security infrastructure. A zero-trust strategy can offer substantial defense-in-depth. Cyber attack warnings may come late and may even be severe enough to be irreparable. Therefore, nothing can be better than preventing their occurrence in the first place.

 

Counter AI-Powered Cyber Attacks with AI-powered cybersecurity

 

As we have discussed above, AI is a double-edged sword. AI-powered cyber attacks can create serious issues for your organization, but these risks can be countered with AI-powered cybersecurity too. Let Jericho Security be your partner in this fight.


Knowledge is power, but action is crucial. It's time to ramp up our defenses against these AI-powered threats. Stay safe and vigilant, everyone! #CyberSecurity #AI #Phishing #JerichoSecurity #StaySafeOnline

Reference: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/28/ai-like-chatgpt-is-creating-huge-increase-in-malicious-phishing-email.html