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That lower entry barrier will also likely contribute to the
global rise in ransomware attacks, whereby criminals encrypt
computer systems for a digital ransom, the National Cyber
Security Centre (NCSC), which is part of GCHQ, said in a report.
“AI will almost certainly increase the volume and heighten the
impact of cyberattacks over the next two years. However, the
impact on the cyber threat will be uneven,” the report said.
It suggested the biggest increase in capability for malicious
actors in cyberspace would go to opportunistic hackers who do
not necessarily possess the skills needed to carry out
higher-level attacks.
At the very least, the report said, the use of generative AI
tools like chatbots can help create more convincing emails or
documents used in online phishing campaigns.
On an advanced level, more capable state-backed hackers were
“best placed to harness AI’s potential in advanced cyber
operations against networks, for example use in advanced malware
generation”, said the report, referring to malicious software
and computer viruses.
Intelligence agencies across the world are grappling with the
rise of potential security problems tied to algorithms that can
generate human-sounding interactions - dubbed large language
models, or LLMs, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which businesses are
incorporating into a wide range of services, including sales and
customer care.
The security implications of AI are still coming into focus.
Authorities in Britain, the U.S. and Canada have said they have
seen hackers embrace the technology.
(Reporting by James Pearson; Editing by Nick Macfie)
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