Top 5 Applications of AI in Cybersecurity

Businesses that adopt technology will have a bright future because the world is changing faster than ever. As technology advances, so do the threats posed by hackers and cyberattackers.

The increase in cybercrimes, such as phishing, fraud, and data theft, puts organizations at risk. To combat these threats, organizations are turning to cybersecurity teams equipped with smart instruments like artificial intelligence (AI). 

AI can quickly identify and stop malicious activity, strengthening networks against further attacks. According to Verified Market Research, the cybersecurity artificial intelligence market is expected to grow from $24.8 billion in 2024 to an incredible $102 billion by 2032.

In this article, we will closely understand AI’s use in cybersecurity.

How Does AI in Cybersecurity Help Prevent Cyber Threats?

AI and machine learning are increasingly crucial for preventing cybersecurity threats. For example, an AI laptop with a Trusted AI Controller (TAC) safeguards your personal data using hardware security.

However, cybercriminals can modify malware code to evade detection. This is where ML is ideal for anti-malware protection, as it can learn from data about previously detected malware to identify new variants. This works even when dangerous code is hidden within seemingly harmless code. 

Additionally, AI-powered network monitoring tools on these laptops can track user behavior, detect anomalies, and respond accordingly. These technologies not only stop threats in real-time without disrupting business processes but also track data that often escape human notice, such as videos, chats, emails, and other communications.

Top Applications of AI  in Cybersecurity

1. Phishing Detection and Malware

AI-driven cybersecurity solutions exhibit improved effectiveness. Chuck Everette of Deep Instinct says that security rates for AI models range from 80% to 92%, which is higher than the 30% to 60% that traditional signature-based malware detection systems manage.

AI distinguishes between spam, phishing scams, and authentic emails by examining the content and context of emails. 

With machine learning algorithms and their enhanced threat intelligence, AI can adapt to new threats by recognizing signs of sophisticated attacks such as spear phishing. It is critical to stop suspicious activity before it compromises your networks.

2. Authentication and Password Protection

By applying AI to cybersecurity, organizations can strengthen user account security and password security through authentication. Most websites offer options for users to register in order to complete sensitive information forms or make purchases. Further security layers are needed to protect their data and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.

Artificial intelligence (AI) methods such as face recognition, fingerprint scanners, and CAPTCHA enable organizations to automatically distinguish between authentic and fraudulent login attempts. 

These solutions have reduced the prevalence of cybercrime techniques like credential stuffing and brute-force attacks, which could jeopardize the entire network of an organization.

3. Vulnerability Detection

Artificial intelligence can scan code and analyze apps to identify possible flaws. It can automatically identify problematic setups or weak points in the code, helping to carry out the required fixes. Cyberattacks can be prevented and detected early on by observing anomalous data transmission patterns, DDoS attacks, or attacker behavior. 

Businesses can examine the behavior of devices, servers, and users with the use of AI-powered security solutions like user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA). This allows them to spot aberrant or unexpected behavior that can point to a zero-day assault. 

4. Network Security

Network security includes the laborious processes of creating policies and understanding the network topology. When organizations have policies in place, they can use those policies to distinguish between connections that are probably safe and those that may require inspection for potentially dangerous activity. 

These principles can be used by businesses to implement and enforce a zero-trust security strategy. However, it takes a lot of time and human labor to create and maintain regulations across several networks. 

Frequently, organizations fail to implement the appropriate naming standards for their workload and applications. However, AI can suggest the best rules and workloads by gradually learning the network traffic patterns of an organization.

5. Encryption of Data

However, what about encryption, which safeguards our data? Is AI able to break it? That’s a really difficult question. AI determines which portions of encrypted data are good and which are evil, like in a puzzle. Encryption is hard to break because it requires complicated arithmetic that is beyond the capabilities of AI.

Fortunately, encryption techniques such as AES and SHA are hard-coded to make them extremely difficult to break. They utilize techniques and security measures that make it difficult for AI or any other attacker to predict how they will operate. Thus, cracking strong encryption remains a significant task even with AI’s incredible capabilities.

Wrapping Up

AI is critical to the future of consumer cybersecurity, particularly in tackling the scope and potential dangers associated with social engineering and Internet of Things malware.

The cybersecurity environment is expected to see previously unheard-of levels of security, quicker reaction times, and an adaptable defensive mechanism thanks to AI at its foundation. AI models are becoming increasingly effective at preventing cyberattacks as they constantly adapt to new threats.