In an increasingly digitized world, where computer systems and networks are exposed to constant threats, the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) has become a crucial tool to anticipate and mitigate attacks.
However, it also generates new risks and raises questions about privacy and data management.
The Microsoft technology company assures that Cybersecurity Use the AI to analyze and correlate the data of events and cyber threats of various origins.
With this, security professionals can use it as a clear and processable source of information to investigate, respond and inform.
What is cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity It is the set of practices, technologies and processes designed to protect computer systems, networks and data against unauthorized access, damage or robberies.
As technology advances, digital security threats become more sophisticated, which requires increasingly advanced defense mechanisms.
Besides, Cybersecurity protects the personal information of users, their accounts, files, photos and even their money.
According to José Amado, manager of the practice of digital identities in application systems (SISAP), within cybersecurity there are three fundamental pillars:
- Data confidentiality: guarantee that user information remains secret and that only they can access their files and accounts.
- Data integrity: Ensure that user information remains intact and has not been modified without their consent.
- Data availability: Cybersecurity must ensure that users can access their information when they need it.
How does artificial intelligence in cybersecurity work?
The AI is able to analyze large volumes of data and learn from them, which allows to detect anomalies and respond to real -time risk situations.
For Amado, Artificial Intelligence “It is designed to identify behavior patterns and threats, anticipating attacks before they happen”.
One of the clearest examples of its cybersecurity application is the identification of malware
IA systems can analyze behavior patterns in files and networks, identifying common malicious software characteristics without the need for an extensive database.
This allows to detect new threats before attacks materialize. The engineer and postgraduate director in artificial intelligence of the Galileo University, Alí Lemus, adds that AI can also detect violations of user information and alert them to combat this type of common attacks.
How are AI complement with cybersecurity?
Both cybersecurity and artificial intelligence complement each other in a mutually beneficial relationship.
On the one hand, lIt helps strengthen cybersecurity by providing advanced tools to detect and neutralize threats. On the other, Cybersecurity is crucial to protect artificial intelligence systems, since the AI can be subject to cyber attacks.
“AI systems must be protected with robust security measures,” Amado says. “Otherwise, they can be manipulated or hacked to make erroneous decisions.”
That is, while AI contributes to defending the systems, their integrity must also be guaranteed to prevent the attackers from infiltrating them.
In addition, Lemus argues: “We must be very careful with how we use artificial intelligence, because they could use it for worse,” and that is where the role of cybersecurity enters, which “helps us prevent,” he adds.
Cybersecurity risks associated with the use of AI tools
Although artificial intelligence offers enormous advantages in the fight against cyberdelites, it also presents certain risks. Some of the main problems, according to experts, include:
1. Data poisoning (Data Poisoning)
This is one of the biggest risks associated with artificial intelligence in cybersecurity. Data poisoning occurs when an attacker manipulates the information with which an AI system is trained.
As Lemus explained: “If someone feeds a system with false or biased information, the final result will be incorrect, which can generate erroneous decisions in the defense of a system.”
For example, if a system learns from false news, it could misunderstand an attack and not respond properly.
2. Deepfakes and misinformation
The generation of false videos and audios through AI, known as DeepfakesIt is another emerging risk. These can be used for identity and misinformation impersonations.
“The Deepfakes Not only are they a danger to people’s reputation, but they are also used for extortion attacks and digital identity robbery, ”says Lemus.
3. Attacks to AI systems
Artificial intelligence, by its nature, can also be vulnerable to attacks. The AI systems used for cybersecurity can be hacked and manipulated to make wrong decisions, which would allow attackers to avoid defenses.
“An attacker could influence an AI system so that, for example, ignore a threat or classify a malicious file as sure,” says Lemus.
Basic Protection Safety Measures
Since artificial intelligence systems are involved in the management of large amounts of data, it is essential that users implement certain security measures to protect their information. Some of the best practices include:
Verify who is interacting with
As Lemus indicates, there have been recent cases of scams through social networks, where attackers supplant the identity of family or loved ones.
Therefore, it is essential to ensure who is interacting with not being a victim of these deceptions. “And not only on a personal level, but also with the sites that are visited,” Lemus emphasizes.
This helps prevent attacks such as Phishingin which cybercounts try to obtain confidential information through deception.
Data encryption
One of the most important measures is information encryption.
“Ensure that sensitive data is encrypted during their storage and transmission is key to protecting them from unauthorized access,” Amado mentions.
The encryption guarantees that, even if the data is intercepted, they cannot be read or used by the attackers.
Evaluate what information is really private
For Amado, concern for data privacy must establish different levels. “For example, many people care about data such as our email, name or telephone number, but we do not realize that we also have published on social networks,” argues the expert.
Multiple factors authentication
Implementing multiple factors authentication is another crucial security layer.
“Strong authentication can prevent attackers from getting access to artificial intelligence systems, even if they manage to steal a password,” Amado explains.
This measure ensures that only authorized people can access sensitive systems.