Can Human Cybersecurity Experts Compete Against Advanced AI Attackers?

[johny899]

It’s important for me to be open and forthcoming about this topic. Some may view the ongoing battle between human cybersecurity experts and AI-based cyber-attackers as chaotic, others may feel overwhelmed by it. When I think about this, I continually ask myself how can we ever hope to compete with such a rapid pace of technological advancement?

The positive aspect is that humans are still actively engaged in this fight and that we have not lost the battle to date.

Speed Considerations: No Comparison with Human Cyber Crime Fighters​

Cyber attackers utilizing AI will take action faster than you can say “quickly.” Within nanoseconds, they will scan your network, identify vulnerabilities, and perpetrate password crack attempts, and launch successful brute force attacks.

AI can:

• Create fraudulent phishing emails that appear to be from trusted sources
• Attempt millions of password entries simultaneously
• Work continuously without resting or tiring.

So, is it possible for humans to respond quickly enough to compete with such speed?

The "Human" Edge: Imagination and Instinct​

The defining factor of a successful human cyber crime fighter is the ability to exhibit creativity in addition to instinct. AI is strictly data-driven and follows rules and patterns. While AI lacks the ability to be creative, a human possesses the capacity to be both inventive and adaptive.

An experienced cybersecurity professional will see certain abnormal behaviours and instantly sense that something isn't right; in other words, while AI is incredibly powerful, it won’t have this level of intuition.

Humans add:

• Novelty (e.g., creativity)
• Instinctive response (plus experience)
• Insight into actual human beings
• Emotion and reason together

AI can only work from the traditional "patterns" that it has learned. When things deviate from those patterns, AI gets confused, while humans thrive on that type of contrast.

The True Collaboration of Man and Machine​

The question needing to be addressed should not be “Can I Win on My Own?”, but rather “How can I utilize AI to assist in defeating other AI?”

Attempting to counter a sophisticated assault without the use of AI, like navigating the battlefield with only a toy sword, is impossible to accomplish effectively. Conversely, relying solely upon AI is as dangerous.

An effective combination of these four components will provide the best security:

• AI's rapid detection of vulnerabilities
• Human's capacity to evaluate which vulnerabilities are critical
• Automated approaches assisting with tedious tasks
• Educational resources aiding individuals in avoiding scams

So, when this combination is applied together, they become formidable!