How AI is changing cybercrime and cybersecurity

Hi again!

In our last issue, we talked about the value of building your practical AI skills. These are the skills that you can apply broadly to enhance productivity regardless of your job role. This week, we’ll explore how AI skills show up in cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity professionals protect data and computer networks from cyber attacks. This line of defense is important to anyone who uses any type of computer or mobile device—and if you’re here with us now, that includes you. What’s more: because of our active participation in cyber technologies, the way AI is impacting cybersecurity actually impacts all of us. Allow us to explain.

How AI is changing cyber safety

As you’ve developed your computer literacy, you’ve likely accumulated a decent amount of basic cyber safety knowledge. For example, you may have turned on your email spam filters, developed a secure password system, or set up two-factor authentication on your private accounts. These are all excellent ways to protect yourself from common cyber attacks.

However, just as AI can unlock new efficiencies and productivity for good causes, it can also do the same for bad actors—meaning cybercrime stands to get even more sophisticated. Here are some ways AI is enabling cybercrime:

• AI-powered password-guessing software can guess common seven-digit passwords in mere minutes.
• Adaptive attack patterns can change its code to adapt to the system through which it spreads.
• Generative malware can enable people with little to no programming knowledge to create malicious software and tools.
• AI-powered deepfakes can engage victims with synthetic video and audio that mimics real people.

These new risks make it more important than ever to remain vigilant with your digital safety and stay up-to-date on common cybersecurity threats. But don’t worry—you’re not alone in keeping yourself safe from cybercrime. Cybersecurity professionals work behind the scenes to protect and encrypt your digital data, and they’re also harnessing the power of AI.

How cybersecurity professionals use AI

Cybersecurity professionals are already using AI technology to combat emerging and growing threats. Here’s how:

• AI-powered malware detection can analyze various types of data for irregular file characteristics and code patterns to better identify malicious software, scripts, and behavior.
• AI-powered security analysis tools can parse security records and uncover trends faster than human-powered analysis can.
• AI-powered monitoring tools can continuously monitor complex systems and react quickly in the event of a breach or security risk.

Some AI tools that cybersecurity professionals use are IBM Security Verify, Amazon GuardDuty, and CylanceENDPOINT. Learn more about these tools and how they’re used in our guide, AI in Cybersecurity: How Businesses are Adapting.

Keep learning about AI and cybersecurity

If the idea of fighting cybercrime energizes you, expand your knowledge with University of Maryland’s free course, Cybersecurity for Everyone. This is a low-risk way to get a better sense of what a cybersecurity career can look like for you.

For a more robust credential, consider the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate. It’s designed around the skills commonly needed to secure an entry-level role in cybersecurity. Plus, if you enroll before August 5, you’ll get access to Google AI Essentials at no cost.

If your goal is to secure a professional certification, you may want to consider the Microsoft Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate. This coursework is also designed for job-readiness, and prepares you for the industry-recognized Microsoft SC-900 Certification exam.

To advance your cybersecurity career, try the IBM Generative AI for Cybersecurity Professionals Specialization. These intermediate-level courses will invigorate your existing skill set with new AI knowledge and tools.

That’s all for this week. If you’d like us to explore how AI is being used in your career in an upcoming issue, let us know in the comments below!

Have a career question you’d like us to answer next? Share it below. And, as always, we welcome YOUR advice and experience in the comments.