How Artificial Intelligence Keeps Us Safe Online: 6 Examples
Protecting our digital information comes before its usage. Fortunately, we have artificial intelligence to take care of online security. Today, AI stands among the top cyber security initiatives, and companies admit they see the benefit.
Let's explore how AI enhances our defenses with straightforward examples.
Detecting Suspicious Activities
AI acts as a vigilant guardian, spotting unusual behavior that could signal a cyber threat. For instance, if someone tries to access your account from an unfamiliar location, AI algorithms can quickly flag this as suspicious activity.
Example: AI detects an attempt to log into your banking account from a different country than usual and alerts you immediately. It prevents potential unauthorized access.
Anticipating Future Threats
AI takes advantage of historical data to predict potential cyber threats. By identifying patterns in past attacks, AI enables security professionals to prepare for and mitigate future risks effectively.
Example: AI analyzes previous malware attacks on similar systems and predicts a similar attack shortly. It prompts organizations to enhance their cybersecurity measures proactively.
Swift Incident Response
AI enables rapid response to security incidents by automating threat mitigation measures. Upon detecting a threat, AI can execute predefined actions, such as isolating compromised systems or blocking malicious IPs, to minimize damage.
Example: Upon detecting a phishing email containing malware, AI automatically quarantines the email and alerts the user to prevent the malware from spreading further.
Continuous Improvement
Widely used in DevSecOps practices, AI continuously learns from new data and processes and adapts its algorithms to evolving threats. It stays up-to-date with emerging cybersecurity trends and makes sure our defenses remain robust and effective over time.
Example: AI analyzes the latest malware variants and updates its detection algorithms accordingly. This enhances its ability to identify and neutralize new threats.
Securing IoT Devices
With the rise of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, AI plays a crucial role in securing these interconnected gadgets, too. AI-powered systems can monitor IoT networks for unusual behavior and prevent potential security breaches.
Example: AI detects a compromised IoT device attempting to communicate with unauthorized servers. It then blocks the suspicious activity and safeguards the entire network from potential cyber-attacks.
Protecting Personal Data
AI secures our personal data by identifying and encrypting sensitive information. It automatically redacts or anonymizes data to let only authorized individuals have access to sensitive information.
Example: AI scans documents for personally identifiable information (PII) such as social security numbers and automatically encrypts or redacts the sensitive data. The result is reducing the risk of data breaches or identity theft.
In summary, AI is a valuable ally in the ongoing battle against cyber threat. It provides proactive protection and rapid response capabilities. With AI's assistance, we can navigate emerging digital tech with confidence and know that our online assets are safeguarded against potential dangers.