Tag Archives: hack prevention

How Is AI Used in Cybersecurity Especially in Hacking?

Ai Cybersecurity
Security, Technology, , , ,

Artificial intelligence has found many excellent uses in business in the past year. In particular, generative AI chatbots based on the large language model (LLM), like the currently very popular ChatGPT from OpenAI, are now being used by cybersecurity companies to respond to customer service requests, create presentations, manage meetings, write emails, and do many more tasks instead of hiring employees to do the same jobs. This, and hundreds of similar AI tools, have made work simpler, faster, and more efficient for businesses worldwide.

But hackers have also been leveraging this impressive technology for their own illicit purposes. It was not very easy at first because ChatGPT and the other popular LLMs from Google and Microsoft all come with preventive measures, making them impossible to use for cybercrime. Clever as they are, hackers eventually found a way by creating their own LLM-based AI tools, such as WormGPT.

The Birth of AI Tools Made for Hacking in Cybersecurity

Tired of attempting to circumvent security measures in mainstream LLM chatbots, cybercriminals developed their own AI-based tools. These chatbots, specifically made for hacking, were first mentioned in the Dark Web in mid-2023. Eventually, word spread, and it was quickly being promoted over Telegram. For many of these chatbots, interested users had to pay for a subscription to get access to the tool. Some are used for a one-time purchase.

Generative AI tools appealed quickly to hackers in cybersecurity because they did most of the job for them, usually much faster, more efficiently, and with better quality. Before, hackers had to have skills or undergo training to perform the different aspects of cybercrime well. But with AI taking care of these tasks, even untrained individuals can launch an online attack using these tools.

How Hackers Use AI Tools for Cybersecurity Attacks

Creating Better Phishing Campaigns

Hackers used to write phishing emails themselves. Because many of them are not native English speakers, it is usual to see glaring grammar and spelling errors in these emails. These are among the easiest red flags people use to identify fraudulent emails. But with AI tools like WormGPT, those telltale signs no longer apply for cybersecurity.

With these nefarious tools, all the hackers must do is describe what they want written, and the tool will produce it for them. The result is quite impressive because it is frequently free of errors and written with a convincing tone. It’s no wonder these scam emails have been very effective.

Gathering Data on Potential Victims 

Finding information about target victims used to be a meticulous and lengthy process. Most of the time, it had to be done manually, which is inefficient and prone to mistakes. AI technology gave hackers a means to gather relevant information without exerting much effort, if at all. They must unleash the tools with the use of AI algorithms, all the details can be collected quickly, sorted, and put to use in their hacking agenda.

Creating Malware

The original generative AI chatbots can write code. This has proved very helpful for businesses as they can create their own original simple software without hiring an entire IT team. There was a time when hackers only comprised highly skilled software experts using AI tools, even beginners could come up with formidable malware, which can cause damage in the millions of dollars.

How to Protect Against AI-Powered Cybersecurity Attacks

AI tools for hacking are still in the early stages. The peak is yet to come, so we can only expect to see more risks from these malicious tools in the future. They will become more destructive, more efficient, and more accessible to hackers.

To stay protected against these developments, businesses should enhance their defenses as early as now. Here are some ways to do just that.

  • Use an AI-based cybersecurity system to defend against AI-based cyberattacks.
  • Implement Multi-Factor Authentication for added security.
  • Conduct regular cybersecurity awareness training that includes data on AI-based online attacks.
  • Keep your network security updated.
  • Monitor developments in LLM-based activities, particularly those relevant to threat intelligence.
  • Ensure that you have a robust incident response strategy.

Artificial intelligence has been valuable to our lives in many aspects. But since hackers also use it for online crimes, businesses need to be extra vigilant. If you need help setting up a dependable security solution against AI-based attacks, we can help you. Just let us know and we can have a dependable MSP come right over to draw up a cybersecurity solution tailored for your company that can thwart any AI-based attack that comes around. Also don’t forget to Download our E-book today which talks about the cybersecurity role of AI in security.

IT Compliance and Why It Is Important for Your Business

Compliance
Cybersecurity, Security, , , , , , , ,

In running a business, there are a lot of important matters that need to be taken care of. Even if they are not really in line with the core competencies of the business. One such matter is IT compliance. In the last few weeks, we have been talking about compliance and how it is important to your business.

What Is IT Compliance?

One of our recent blogs gives a brief but enlightening overview of what IT compliance is all about. In a nutshell, it is the process of complying with the rules, regulations and requirements set by a third party, which aim to reduce the risk for your organization and allow you to operate within the location or industry under their jurisdiction.

IT Security

How Is IT Compliance Different from IT Security?

IT security is another term that we are all familiar with, especially these days when online fraud, data breaches and other kinds of cyberattacks are so prevalent. In another recent blog, we list the differences between IT security and compliance, and also how they are similar in some ways.

The Similarities

IT Compliance and security can be quite confusing to a lot of people, with many mistakenly thinking that they are the same concept. This is understandable as both do have to do with the protection of your organization amidst the threat-filled online environment. That is, both reduce the risk for your business and let you operate more smoothly.

Also, both compliance and security are vital for gaining and maintaining the trust of your clients. By showing that your system is secure and fully compliant with all industry and legal standards, you can attract customers and build a positive reputation much more easily.

The Differences

One of the primary differences between IT compliance and IT security is that the former is only to fulfill the requirements set by a third party, while the latter is done for the actual protection of one’s business or company. As such, IT security usually involves much more stringent safety measures and protocols that aim to keep your system as safe as possible.

Another difference is that IT security is an ongoing process that needs to be maintained 24/7 while compliance is done as soon as the requesting party is satisfied. The requirements for compliance remain more or less the same for a very long time, while security needs can change very often as it needs to address the continually evolving strategies used by hackers day in and day out.

Achieving Compliance

Why Compliance Should Be a Team Effort

Compliance is considered by many as routine work that only requires the minimum requirements set by a third party. With that only one individual is working on compliance for the company. But compliance is actually a much more significant and much larger task than that. In yet another blog, we discuss the reasons why compliance should be a team effort for any organization.

Among these reasons is that there are plenty of discussions that need to take place before full compliance is complete. Some of the most crucial issues to talk about our email encryption, data encryption, firewalls, backups, data availability, and storage. If you don’t work on these matters, it can lead to fines and penalties for your company. Worse, it could leave gaps in your security system that hackers can easily get through.

We have a 10-step guideline that you can follow if you think there is a hacker in this infographic.

But of course, we don’t want things to go that far. To minimize the risk of that happening, you need to put due effort into compliance. It won’t be practical or wise to expect just one person to complete this sensitive work. We highly recommend delegating the work to a team of experts who can guarantee that all requirements are complete. This will let your organization be fully compliant in no time at all.

To find out more about how we can help, just call us today and we will schedule a free consultation!

Achieving Compliance as a Team

Achieving Compliance
Cybersecurity, Data Backup, Security, , , , , , ,

Before your company can fully comply with all the requirements set by third parties like regulatory bodies and clients, there are dozens upon dozens of tasks that need to be completed. These tasks are spread across different areas of the company and are impossible for just one individual to accomplish. The process of achieving compliance would require a fast and thorough team of compliance specialists.

Vital Matters to Discuss when achieving compliance

In most cases achieving compliance failures can be attributed to a lack of planning and communication. To avoid these problems, bring your compliance team together right from the start and discuss all the crucial matters.

Email Encryption

Daily, hundreds of emails can go back and forth in your company. You need a reliable encryption system to protect all emails and keep all data away from these hackers.

Data Encryption

Customer data, credit card information, and other data must all pass through a secure collection system to avoid theft or exposure to unauthorized parties. This method is crucial when achieving compliance.

Firewalls

Skilled hackers can easily override some firewalls. If you are still using an older firewall try upgrading to a multi-level system for a much better defense against unwanted intruders.

Backups

Data backups are your lifeline of a system failure or cyberattack and are crucial when achieving compliance. It is crucial to create backups regularly and store them in a safe location in a system that complies with client and government requirements.

Data Availability and Storage when achieving compliance

Sensitive information within your business must only be accessible to authorized individuals. There should be a surefire method of restricting access to sensitive information to minimize data breaches.

Physical Access

Maximizing digital security is critical, but you must not take physical safety measures for granted. Every employee should shut down their computers properly after use. Screen filters might be necessary when achieving compliance for some workstations with sensitive data.

Responsibilities of the Internal Compliance Officer to achieving compliance

In addition to choosing a highly skilled IT compliance team, you also need an internal compliance officer on your payroll when achieving compliance. Their primary duty would be to monitor the staff and ensure that each one abides by compliance procedures—locking their systems when they leave their workstations, practicing caution when using credit card information and private company data, and so on.

Regular cybersecurity training is also part of the responsibilities of the internal compliance officer. Quarterly training is ideal for keeping employees aware of the pervasive dangers online. When new employees join the team, they should receive training on compliance policies as well.

Finally, it is also the internal compliance officer who maintains compliance-related documentation such as communication standards and backup plans.

Delegating Compliance to an MSP

Even businesses that are not in the IT industry will need to comply with several IT regulations when achieving compliance. If you do not have an in-house tech team and if your staff does not have the expertise or experience to handle the task, there’s no need to worry. MSPs, or managed services providers, can take these technical matters off your hands.

If you partner with us, we will assign your company a team of compliance experts who will ensure that you meet all relevant requirements. Whether you need to fulfill requirements for HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR, NIST, or any other regulatory authority, we will take care of it to completion. Give us a call, our team will also coordinate closely with your organization to ensure we meet all requirements. You can also check out our Free Cybersecurity Infographic if you’re looking for great advice to keep your business safe in the meantime.