AI Fuels New Cyber Threats

AI Fuels New Cyber Threats, Experts Struggle to Keep Up

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is creating new opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit Australians, with experts struggling to keep pace with the rapidly evolving threats. Dr. Chao Chen, a cybersecurity expert at RMIT’s (College of Business and Law), warns that AI is enabling more personalised and effective cybercrimes, from deep fake scams to AI-enhanced phishing attacks.​

Recent data shows Australians lost $2.74 billion to scams last year, a sharp increase from $851 million in 2020. AI is automating and scaling up these attacks, making them harder to detect. For example, AI-generated fake videos and messages have tricked victims into losing large sums of money.

To counter these threats, Dr. Chen suggests that cybersecurity firms need to focus on developing AI tools that can detect and mitigate AI-generated scams. Additionally, establishing rapid response teams and conducting thorough post-incident analyses could help strengthen the industry's ability to tackle these new challenges.

AI also poses risks in critical areas like autonomous vehicles and medical diagnosis by potentially manipulating data inputs. Despite rising awareness, Australia faces a shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals trained in AI, complicating efforts to counter these threats.

The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) acknowledges the risks and continues updating guidelines to protect against AI-driven cybercrimes. To stay safe, experts recommend using strong passphrases, multi-factor authentication, and staying vigilant against these sophisticated attacks.

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