Greetings, HackingBlogs.com readers
We will discuss the role of AI in email security today. AI is not perfect, but it can assist in identifying phishing attempts. In this piece, we will discuss why human awareness is still essential and why AI is not sufficient to prevent phishing emails. We will also examine some recent methods that hackers are employing to get around AI protection. A thorough Cofense essay on email security cites this paper. Let us begin!
Combining human awareness with AI security is the best defense.
Introduction
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a major factor in email security in today’s digital environment. Secure email gateways (SEGs) with AI capabilities are used by many businesses to stop phishing attempts. However, phishing emails still end up in employees’ inboxes in spite of these sophisticated technologies.
This demonstrates that AI alone is insufficient to fully defend against email threats. Employees should have the right training so they can recognize phishing efforts. Because AI/ML models are trained on historical data, they might not always be effective at identifying emerging dangers. Furthermore, hackers are constantly coming up with new ways to get beyond AI security, and they are now exploiting AI maliciously for their own ends.
AI’s Role in Email Security
Phishing emails with common patterns, such as poor grammar, urgent requests, or suspicious hyperlinks can be identified by AI. It functions similarly to spam filters. While legitimate emails are occasionally mistakenly captured, the majority of spam communications are sorted into garbage folders. The issue is that as attackers get more sophisticated, they use AI to craft phishing messages that are more convincing, making it more difficult for AI to identify them.
Even in languages they were previously unable to target, phishing emails now appear more professional due to the use of improved language models and translation tools by attackers as phishing attempts get more complex.
Limitations of AI in Email Security
AI has limitations when it comes to new and complex attacks, but it is helpful in identifying established phishing risks. AI is also being used by attackers in their attacks. They build convincing emails by copying the victim’s writing style using huge language models. This makes it more difficult for staff and AI to identify fake communications.
For instance, using open-source data, attackers may obtain details on a company’s workers, including their roles, hobbies, and even writing style. This enables them to create phishing emails that are convincing and highly specific. In order to fool staff members into sending money or disclosing private information, attackers can also utilize AI to produce deepfake audio or video recordings that mimic the voices of reliable corporate employees.
Human Interaction and New Attack Methods
A lot of phishing attacks need the user to take some sort of action, such as scanning a QR code or clicking a link. Because these techniques get over the standard AI security measures, this can be challenging for AI to examine. For instance, in order to get over AI filters, attackers occasionally conceal harmful links inside PDF files or QR codes.
The security features on the victim’s PC, such as Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), stop working after they scan the QR code with their phone, which makes it simpler for attackers to carry out successful attacks.
Why Attackers Are Using QR Codes
Because QR codes can get past computer security, they are being utilized more and more in phishing emails. The victim is taken to a malicious website after scanning the QR code, where they may be tricked into exposing private information. Even though QR codes can be automatically analyzed, they are still a useful method of getting over AI security.
How Attackers Hide Malicious Links
Attackers are becoming skilled at utilizing services like Google AMP, which redirects users to a phishing website, or even hiding dangerous URLs in email attachments.
Other strategies include employing malicious content hidden inside seemingly innocent files, such as Office documents or PDFs, or embedding dangerous links in email marketing services, such as MailChimp. These files seem harmless, but when they are opened, they can download malware into the computer or direct users to phishing websites.
Although AI is not flawless, it can identify a variety of phishing attack types. In addition to employing AI to make their attacks seem more believable, attackers are always changing their strategies to go against AI security. Combining human awareness with AI security is the best defense. While AI should be utilized as a tool to assist in identifying and blocking known risks, employees must remain alert and adhere to security best practices.
