AI and Cyberwarfare

- Overview

Cyber warfare involves the actions by a nation-state or international organization to attack and attempt to damage another nation's computers or information networks through, for example, computer viruses or denial-of-service attacks. It refers to the use of digital attacks - like computer viruses and hacking - by one country to disrupt the vital computer systems of another, with the aim of creating damage, death and destruction. 

Future wars will see hackers using computer code to attack an enemy's infrastructure, fighting alongside troops using conventional weapons like guns and missiles. Cyberwarfare is essentially warfare between states, albeit conducted in the cyber realm. It consists of states (and state-sponsored agencies) launching cyber attacks against each other.

The objectives of launching these attacks are various. Sometimes, the motive is to steal corporate or state secrets. Sometimes, an attack aims to disrupt critical infrastructure, or merely infect the software behind this infrastructure and lay silent until it is needed. Needless to mention, some attacks seek to influence elections, either by directly hacking voting software or distributing propaganda among crucial voters.

- Key Technologies To Drive The Development of Cyberwarfare

There are three key pieces of technology, though, that are likely to drive the development of cyberwarfare in the coming decade. 

• Machine Learning And AI: Artificial Intelligence is already being deployed in a wide range of situations, and it is likely that governments are already incorporating it into their cyber weapons.
• The Cloud: Cloud storage represents both a risk and an asset when it comes to cyber warfare. On one hand, distributed storage can make critical information easier to steal, because an attacker only needs to identify one weak machine in order to compromise a system. On the other hand, with the correct encryption, cloud storage can actually be more secure than physical drives.
• Blockchain: Blockchain is also likely to revolutionize cyber warfare in the coming years. By providing a secure way to share key information between multiple users, it promises to protect data from the most common types of cyber attack. On the other hand, we don't think it will be long before even blockchain is compromised

[Moraine Lake, Canada]

- AI-Powered Cyberwarfare 

As technology continues to advance, we see more and more examples of artificial intelligence being used for military purposes. AI is changing the face of warfare in some egregious ways, especially in the realm of cyber warfare. 

From the SolarWinds attack to the Ryuk ransomware attack on the National Health Service, there are many potential risks of using artificial intelligence in cyberattacks. These risks have led some to classify AI as harmful. 

But why is AI so effective in cyber warfare? The answer lies in its ability to automate tasks, learn from data, and adapt to new situations. These capabilities make AI an extremely powerful tool for cyber attackers, who can leverage it to launch more targeted and effective attacks than ever before. 

One of the key challenges in defending against AI cyberattacks is that these attacks are constantly evolving. Traditional cybersecurity measures may not be sufficient to keep up with the speed and sophistication of AI attacks. That's why it's important for organizations to remain vigilant and adapt to this new threat landscape. 

So, what can we do to defend against AI-driven cyberattacks? One way is to use artificial intelligence in our defense strategy as well. By analyzing network traffic and detecting anomalous behavior using machine learning algorithms, we can quickly identify and respond to potential threats. 

Another approach is to prioritize employee cybersecurity training and awareness. Many cyberattacks are successful because they exploit human error, such as clicking on phishing emails or using weak passwords. By educating our employees on cybersecurity best practices, we can reduce the risk of a successful attack.

[More to come ...]