How to Safeguard Your Network Against AI-Based Cyber Attacks and Threats
For all the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, IT leaders must be aware of the drawbacks. The internal and external risks threaten network security by evading intrusion detection tools and automating sophisticated attacks. Indeed, hackers leverage many applications — like ChatGPT — that enterprises use.
CIOs must be proactive and vigilant as corporations encounter new, complex cybersecurity challenges. Security measures should involve ongoing staff awareness training, adaptive detection techniques, and continuous monitoring. Learn how to identify AI-driven cyber threats and safeguard your network.
GPT Account Security and Preventing Phishing Attacks
Account takeover (ATO) attacks or unauthorized access to enterprise GPT applications puts your organization at risk. Besides being locked out of your account, hackers may steal sensitive information, execute resource-intensive tasks, or otherwise abuse the services. Depending on how your business uses GPT, an ATO attack could lead to data privacy violations and reputational damage.
Keeping your software updated and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) helps protect your GPT accounts. However, your staff should also avoid getting on Chat GPT on public Wi-Fi or other unsecured networks, and administrators should monitor accounts for suspicious activity. Most importantly, organizations must learn how cyber-attackers use generative AI to craft successful phishing emails and educate employees.
Prevent AI-driven phishing attacks with these training best practices:
- Create simulated phishing campaigns so employees can view and interact with various AI-generated content in a safe environment.
- Explain to staff that AI tools allow attackers to create error-free emails designed to generate specific actions, like clicking a link or creating a sense of urgency.
- Develop a simple reporting process for phishing attempts and let employees practice the steps.
- Complete regular training workshops where your team explores why they shouldn’t click on links, download attachments, or provide sensitive information.
Identifying Targets for Ransomware and Social Engineering
Since AI analyzes large data sets quickly, hackers can scan enterprise networks for vulnerabilities while performing many other actions. As they search for potential targets, adversaries use collected data to update AI and machine learning (ML) models. These models and mapping tools help them evade detection in your network.
Once they find a weakness, generative AI technologies create everything from social media profiles and personalized emails to voice-cloned messages and deep fake videos. Hackers automate many of these steps, allowing them to disrupt an enterprise network.
The best defense is implementing user awareness training backed by the latest AI security solutions. Build social engineering training into your cybersecurity education classes and provide regular simulations, including examples of voice phishing (vishing) and synthetic videos. Also, consider partnering with a technology service provider that updates AI models and behavioral analysis tools to prevent the newest evasion tactics.
Jailbreaking ChatGPT Plus and Safeguarding AI Services
ChatGPT Plus has guardrails in place to prevent misuse and abuse. But when an attacker jailbreaks an account, these safeguards disappear. Aside from an inaccessible account, the cyber-attacker may sell it on the dark web. As a result, a bad actor may impersonate your business or employee, extract confidential data, or manipulate the AI model.
Enterprises must take steps to defend paid or free ChatGPT accounts. Multi-factor authentication (MFA), user education, and a robust cybersecurity program are crucial to protecting your AI services. Remember to consider how the latest fraud techniques may impact your approach when reviewing your strategy. Introduce new concepts during training sessions and through engaging infographics, short videos, and GIFs.
Evading CAPTCHAs and Strengthening Authentication
AI and ML can recognize complex patterns and learn from their mistakes. In the same way, these characteristics help organizations achieve large-scale objectives; they enable cyber-attackers to evade network security measures and launch automated attacks. The challenge for organizations is striking the right balance between security and usability.
Consider a multi-layer approach using advanced authentication methods and CAPTCHA alternatives, such as:
- Monitoring user activity continuously and requesting additional steps if unusual behavior is detected.
- Creating math or time-based challenges, which are more difficult for AI bots to accomplish.
- Using devices or biometric authentication processes to verify identities.
- Allowing workers to play a short game or describe an image instead of solving a CAPTCHA.
Proactive Defense Strategies for AI-Driven Cyber Threats
With the speed of machine learning and artificial intelligence tools, a reactive approach won’t work. Fortunately, AI also helps organizations fight cybercrime. IT leaders can prepare networks and employees by creating a strategy that manages current and emerging threats.
Enterprises should develop AI-powered threat detection and analysis applications to detect anomalies and assess behaviors. AI can hunt for threats on your network and review user activity or application usage. Updating CAPTCHA and authentication methods also helps prevent AI-fueled attacks.
Moreover, every enterprise should have a comprehensive incident response plan for addressing AI-related emergencies, including specific mitigation techniques based on the type of target and attack. Using simulations and drills, leaders should test and reassess strategies to ensure their tactics withstand the newest challenges.
Collaborating with AI Technology Providers
Today’s risk environment requires a cooperative approach involving partnerships, with each member doing their part to detect and prevent threats. Two key benefits of IT leaders collaborating with AI technology providers are shared intelligence and early threat detection. By showing potential incidents at once, enterprises and AI services can respond rapidly. Moreover, both can use artificial intelligence to learn from new threat data and attack patterns.
Working with a technology partner like Cox Business can add an additional layer of security to your enterprise network and company. Explore and ask about cloud solutions that can provide network, device, and data protection. With a trusted partner like Cox Business and a Backup as a Service (BaaS) cloud solution, if an incident does occur, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that Cox Business can assist with file backup and recovery tools.
Continuous Education and Adaptability
AI technologies and how criminals use them are continuously changing. Although many AI tools are in their infancy, they allow users without any coding experience to hack into enterprise networks and evade detection. Developers continue to restrict large language models from hackers with guidance. But jailbroken accounts, dark web chat boards, and other workarounds give them access.
Therefore, IT teams must adopt a proactive stance and update their skillset to detect and address modern threats. Technology partners and internal teams can work together to build custom solutions that meet industry requirements and your company’s risk profile. In addition, automated incident response plans and data recovery tools ensure your business responds and recovers quickly.
Take a Proactive Approach to Network Security
Although large language models have guardrails, threat actors continue to find ways to exploit AI technologies. Indeed, whenever a tool can be put to good use, hackers figure out how to use it for criminal advantage. That’s why we’ve seen an uptick in social engineering incidents and phishing attacks automated with help from AL and ML.
Fortunately, IT leaders aren’t alone in the fight. Technology partners like Cox Business can help enterprises evolve to meet the latest challenges through proactive defense strategies.
