Many of the changes that make business operations better are thanks to AI. The bad news is that AI has also brought us bigger and scarier security risks since hackers use it for bad things. In fact, there has been a rise in the number of data hacks lately. Today we will discuss how to Keep AI from being used against you by these hackers.
From 2014 to 2020, there were an average of 1,105 data breaches per year. Starting in 2021, that number quickly grew to more than 1,800 per year. Analysts say this is because AI tools are commonly used in many types of hacking.
Yes, the numbers are scary, but there is good news: we can do something. Here are some key steps that business owners need to take to keep their workers and their company safe from AI-powered attacks.
With safety, the first thing you should do is know what you’re up against. You don’t have to learn all the hackers’ tricks, but you should recognize how they use AI so you can see the risks.
Cybercriminals are now using AI algorithms and tools to do many things, such as make malware, automate attacks, send fake emails, and stay hidden. An increasing number of hackers are also using the flaws in AI-based security systems to get in without permission and open security holes.
Keep AI systems up-to-date
Hackers are always eager to get their hands on new technologies, like AI, that they can use to do bad things. You can protect yourself from the most dangerous AI dangers by keeping your systems up-to-date and using the latest security tools. You shouldn’t feel safe just because you put in a good security system a few years ago. Not only should you keep your program up-to-date, but you should also keep your hardware and firmware up-to-date.
Train your workers. Your employees are the easiest target for AI-based cyberattacks because they are the weakest link. Because of this, it is very important that you train your staff well, especially on how to spot the signs of different online threats. They need to learn to be careful when opening texts and watch out for strange behavior on social media. Also, be sure to teach your employees how important cybersecurity is since these attacks can affect them and the company.
Make your security controls stronger
Using AI tools, cybercriminals have made new security threats. However, cybersecurity experts have also designed new security controls to help companies like yours deal with these threats. You must use these advanced security measures if you don’t want AI used against you. These include biometrics, data encryption, role-based access control (RBAC), multifactor authentication (MFA), and many more. In addition, you shouldn’t forget to use anti-malware software, which is still a good way to keep computers free of harmful programs.
Keep Making AI work for you
Hackers can use AI against you, but you can also use AI to protect yourself from hackers. With AI, there are both good and bad things that can happen. You can use AI to your advantage. AI can help improve many parts of your security system, including finding threats, handling incidents, doing automatic compliance checks, and more.
Work together with other groups
In the fight against AI-based threats, more people mean more power. First, you need to work with a reliable security expert, like a managed security services provider (MSP) who focuses on cybersecurity. This person can protect your company from all these AI and ML dangers. You can also work with other businesses like yours to share ideas and develop ways to deal with the risks that AI poses.
Conclusion on How to Keep AI from Being Used Against You
An advance in artificial intelligence and machine learning has already caused a lot of changes in society, some good and some bad. On the other hand, these tools are still very new. As AI keeps giving people benefits, it will also bring risks. Businesses need to be ready for these risks, and the first thing they can do is follow the steps we listed above.
Sometimes it’s too much to handle, but that’s why we’re here. Our webinar which you can watch any time can help you learn more about AI and how it works in defense. Our Cybersecurity E-book also has a lot of useful knowledge, and you can download it HERE. We can also set up a meeting if you’re ready to talk about changing your current security system. We’ll make sure that AI technology works for you instead of against you, no matter what you need.