Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are becoming increasingly prevalent in our daily lives. ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI, has the ability to generate text based on a prompt, making it an indispensable tool in various industries such as customer service, content creation, and more. 

However, as with any technology, the increasing popularity of generative AI tools has also drawn the attention of cybercriminals who are looking for new ways to carry out their attacks. 

This article aims to shed light on the growing threat posed by generative AI tools like ChatGPT to the cybersecurity landscape and the steps that organizations and individuals can take to protect themselves.

Understanding ChatGPT and Generative AI Tools

To truly grasp the threat posed by generative AI tools like ChatGPT, it’s important to understand how they work and what makes them so powerful.

ChatGPT was launched on November 30, 2022, and gained one million users within the first week according to OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman. People from all industries and backgrounds were trying this revolutionary new technology. But is it really that new? 

ChatGPT is a cutting-edge language model similar to the groundbreaking technology of GPT-3 (Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3). GPT-3 is a powerful tool trained on a massive dataset of 175 billion parameters from the internet.

In short, a lot of information from the internet trained the model.

Despite being trained on a smaller number of parameters (20 billion), ChatGPT is often perceived as a glimpse into the capabilities of GPT-4, the next iteration in OpenAI’s Generative Pre-trained Transformer series. It’s a variation of GPT-3, known as GPT-3.5, and is seen as a forerunner to the forthcoming release of GPT-4, expected to debut sometime in the early months of 2023.

AI Is Revolutionary

As AI continues to permeate every aspect of our lives, it is becoming increasingly evident that it has the potential to be a double-edged sword. 

On the one hand, AI has the power to revolutionize industries, streamline processes, and improve our quality of life. On the other hand, AI can also be used as a tool for malicious purposes, and this is particularly true in the realm of cybersecurity.

Since its debut, ChatGPT has only gained in popularity and its impact on various industries has been immense and transformative. Even tech luminary Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and Twitter is impressed. Here’s a look into what ChatGPT has done. 

#1 Technology. After its launch, programmers shared astonishing stories of the ChatGPT’s ability to generate highly competent code. While there are some issues that can occur, as shown by Ethereum’s founder Vitalk, and exploits, the success it had with writing code for apps and other software has been a game changer. 

#2 Entertainment. With ChatGPT, even authors without prior fiction writing experience can create compelling stories. This tool, based on GPT-3 technology, is not the only option for aspiring novelists, as Sudowrite, a similar tool, has been available for several months prior to ChatGPT’s release and has been utilized by many aspiring writers.

#3 Education. Searching for “students cheating on their assignments with ChatGPT” yields numerous articles discussing the way AI is aiding students in cheating on exams and assignments. 

And while there are certainly potential applications for ChatGPT in education, such as providing students with a better understanding of the material and helping them stay motivated, its primary use has been to allow students to cheat their way through tests and homework. 

With over 89% of students admitting to using AI platforms to cheat, it is clear that ChatGPT and similar tools are a major risk to the integrity of education. Although, some educators disagree and are even using ChatGPT to teach.

#4 Business. As AI technology continues to mature and become more widely available, it’s expected that a significant portion of organizations will invest in AI architecture. In fact, projections suggest that nearly three-quarters of companies will adopt AI in some form as they strive to stay ahead in the digital age. The impact of AI on the business world is undeniable and its growth shows no signs of slowing down.

And this is just the start.

The potential applications of generative AI tools are vast and varied. In customer service, for example, they can be used to automate responses to frequently asked questions, freeing up human agents to focus on more complex tasks. In content creation, they can be used to generate articles, social media posts, and more, saving time and effort for marketers and writers.

However, it is the very versatility of generative AI tools that makes them a target for cybercriminals. By their nature, these tools are able to generate large amounts of data, making them ideal for use in cyber-attacks such as phishing scams, spam campaigns, and more.

Even ChatGPT’s Sam Altman agrees that AI is becoming a huge cybersecurity risk.

The Threat Posed by ChatGPT and Generative AI Tools to Cybersecurity

The rise of artificial intelligence has been a major boon for humanity, allowing us to automate mundane tasks and improve our lives in countless ways. But with great power comes great responsibility — and the dark side of AI is becoming increasingly apparent. 

Generative tools are being used to fuel the next generation of cyber-attacks, with malicious actors using AI-driven techniques to launch sophisticated attacks that can evade traditional security measures.

One of the primary ways in which generative AI tools are being used by hackers is to automate the creation of phishing scams and spam campaigns. These tools allow attackers to create targeted phishing campaigns that are tailored specifically for individual victims. 

By using AI-driven techniques such as natural language processing and sentiment analysis, attackers can craft messages that appear more authentic and thus increase the likelihood of success in their attack campaigns. Not only that, but this also lets cybercriminals bypass traditional spam filters and deliver their messages to a wider audience.

AI is used to automate the process of social engineering. By using AI to generate convincing messages, hackers can trick victims into giving up sensitive information such as login credentials and financial information. This type of attack is particularly dangerous because it relies on human trust, making it difficult to detect and prevent.

Analysis by Check Point Research (CPR) has found that there are already instances of cybercriminals using OpenAI to develop malicious tools. One case showed a tech-oriented threat actor using ChatGPT to create an infostealer and a simple Java program that downloads and runs a commonly used SSH client, PuTTY. 

Another case showed a less experienced threat actor using OpenAI to create a multi-layer encryption tool that can easily be turned into ransomware. CPR notes that while the tools currently presented in the report are basic, it is only a matter of time until more sophisticated actors enhance their use of AI-based tools for malicious purposes.

These experts also showcased in another article the capability of ChatGPT to construct a malware attack from scratch, starting from designing a phishing email to composing malicious code. However, it was found that generating fully functional code required prodding the model to consider intricate details that only an experienced programmer would consider.

AI Can Help You Fight Back

While AI can be used to craft malicious campaigns, it can also be leveraged to enhance cybersecurity defenses. Here is some ways AI can actually help you with your cyber security:

#1 Authentication. AI can be used to authenticate users based on the way they communicate, including speaking, writing, and typing.

#2 Identifying Phishing Scams. AI is not only capable of crafting phishing scams, but it can also detect them! By utilizing AI to examine the content of emails and messages, it becomes easier to identify phishing attempts aimed at obtaining personal or confidential information.

#3 Developing Anti-Virus Software. AI with programming abilities in various languages like Python, JavaScript, and C, can assist in the creation of software designed to detect and eliminate viruses and malware.

#4 Automated Reports. AI can generate plain-language reports and summaries of detected or countered attacks and threats, with specific recommendations for different people, from IT departments to executives. These reports can help organizations stay informed and proactive in their cybersecurity measures.

#5 Identifying Weaknesses in Existing Code. Utilizing NLP/NLG algorithms, it is possible to identify vulnerable spots in poorly written code and bring attention to potential security breaches caused by exploits and buffer overflows that can result in data loss. This is already becoming a popular concept for many software engineers. 

#6 Intrusion Detection. AI can be used to detect potential exploits and intrusions before they become a major issue for an organization. By scanning large amounts of data and identifying patterns, it is possible to detect malicious actors that are attempting to breach an organization’s network.

Prevention and Mitigation Strategies

As AI-powered cyber-attacks become more sophisticated and frequent, it’s crucial for organizations and individuals to take proactive steps to protect themselves. Here are a few strategies that can be used to prevent and mitigate AI-powered cyber-attacks:

#1 Employee education. One of the most effective ways to prevent social engineering attacks is to educate employees on the dangers of phishing scams and other types of cyber-attacks. This includes teaching them how to spot fake emails, websites, and phone calls, as well as what to do if they suspect they have fallen victim to an attack.

#2 Use of AI-powered security tools. By using AI-powered security tools, organizations can stay one step ahead of cybercriminals by detecting and blocking malicious activity before it causes harm. This includes using AI to identify and block phishing emails, detect, and prevent data breaches, and analyze network traffic for suspicious activity. Predictive AI, like Wisr.ai, can give insights into future risk and targets, allowing companies to assign resources with the proper priority and urgency. 

#3 Regular software updates. Keeping software and systems up to date is one of the most effective ways to prevent cyber-attacks. Software updates often include security patches that address vulnerabilities and improve the overall security of the system.

#4 Strong passwords and multi-factor authentication. Using strong passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication can greatly reduce the risk of cyber-attacks. This is because even if a hacker can obtain a victim’s password, they will still need access to the second factor in order to gain access to the system.

#5 Regular backups. Regular backups are critical for mitigating the effects of cyber-attacks. By regularly backing up important data, organizations can quickly restore their systems and minimize the impact of an attack.

The use of AI-powered cyber-attacks is growing, making it more important than ever to take proactive steps to protect against these threats. By using a combination of employee education, AI-powered security tools, regular software updates, strong passwords, and regular backups, organizations, and individuals can stay ahead of the game and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of an AI-powered cyber-attack.

Final Thoughts

The rise of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools has brought both opportunities and threats to the field of cybersecurity. While these tools have the potential to greatly improve software development and cyber defense, they also pose a significant risk to organizations and individuals if they fall into the wrong hands.

Take your cybersecurity to the next level by discovering how AI can help protect you. Improve your defense against cyber threats today with Wisr.ai!