As we have seen in recent years, ransomware attacks have evolved, becoming more aggressive, sophisticated, and expensive for victims. Recent reports have revealed that in the first 6 months of 2022, the number of new ransomware variants rose by 100%, increasing the threat companies have to protect against. With the growing ransomware threats and emerging technologies, there is concern around what we should expect next.
The rise of AI technology has been instrumental in the early detection and mitigation of cybercrime threats. However, AI in cybersecurity is a two-edged sword as it also creates opportunities for cybercriminals to launch sophisticated scale attacks on IT and OT systems. Although this era is still in its infancy, there’s a need to understand what to expect. In this article, we will explain how ransomware will use AI and how threat intelligence can help mitigate the risk of ransomware attacks.
Does Ransomware use AI?
Many mainstream cybercrime groups have accumulated massive income from their attacks by working with state actors to cripple the systems of warring nations. This new development creates unlimited possibilities. While it was nearly impossible for cybercriminals to deploy AI and Machine learning ransomware attacks in the past because they needed more technical skills, they can now hire experts to build them. As the ransomware-as-a-service industry gains more traction, AI ransomware as-a-service will become part of the sales mix.
With these possibilities, cybercriminals can use AI tools to automate wide-scale ransomware attacks where the manual process of scripting, deployment, system analysis, and more can be managed by AI tools. A recent example of this is the conversational AI tool ChatGPT. We have seen multiple implementations so far with news of ChatGPT being used to create effective malicious code floating around the internet. Although the system includes strict rules to limit users from creating harmful code, it’s possible to find loopholes around them as the tool is still in its learning stages. This development, along with other AI tools, creates a threat concern and will lead to the AI-powered ransomware attack era or be the foundation for testing. Although there are no reports of AI-powered attacks, it’s only a matter of time before we begin to experience them.
How will Artificial Intelligence be used for Ransomware Attacks?
As the technology to mitigate cybercrime evolves, hackers will find new tactics and methods to penetrate these systems. AI is a leading technology that hackers will adopt, but how will they use this technology to attack IT and OT systems?
Bot-based Ransom Collection
One of the critical aspects of ransomware attacks is the ransom collection process. Most hacker groups use multiple layers of encryption to mask the location of their communications when negotiations begin. However, with the robust implementation of AI in conversational bot development, malicious actors will switch to these methods for managing their ransomware negotiations. For example, their AI-powered malware can be programmed to trigger a chat interface when victims agree to pay the ransom. These malicious actors can program the bots with predefined conversation patterns that ensure the process is seamless and efficient. They can deploy multiple attacks simultaneously since they save time on negotiations.
Quickly Deploy Large-scale Attack
Ransomware attacks involve many moving parts, mostly performed manually, and it is time-consuming. However, we have seen how fast AI and Machine learning algorithms can locate large data from the internet, analyze and identify specific information based on set parameters. There’s also been news of conversational chat tools that can generate scripts and other codes for programming purposes. With the continued sophistication of AI tools, malicious actors can quickly create malware and deploy it to thousands of systems simultaneously. The result will be a massive system shutdown across a large radius which can include shutdowns within state borders or attacking a global firm and crippling activities across all subsidiaries. AI will make it easier for hackers to create malware that can learn and adapt to different scenarios to maintain system controls. With this in place, wide-scale attacks will be more accessible and popular in cybercrime.
Faster Vulnerability Scanning
An essential part of ransomware attacks are pen testing systems which identify vulnerabilities that can be exploited. With rapid AI growth, tools have been developed to scrape information from the internet in minutes. This feature threatens companies as hackers can create scripts that mimic system infrastructure and scan and identify bugs without triggering security breach alerts.
Intelligent and Customized Phishing Attacks
Phishing is a major tactic hackers use to penetrate IT and OT systems. With AI powered ransomware, hackers can create more specific and creative emails that prompt users to click on a link that downloads the malware onto their devices. There is also the rise of deep fake systems that hackers can use to create videos of famous individuals. These videos can mimic marketing gurus and are sent out via email, prompting users to opt-in for a special offer or register for a webinar. When users click on these links, they unknowingly download malware to their computers, triggering a ransomware attack. Combining AI emails and deep fakes will eliminate the trust factor that might help users identify scam emails creating a significant threat to companies.
How Can Companies Prepare for the AI-powered Ransomware Era?
Although there has been some news of AI powdered cyber attacks using deep fake technology, we haven’t seen any on AI-powered ransomware yet. However, change is constant, and companies must take necessary precautions to prepare for these risks. Some ways to prepare for the looming danger of AI-powered ransomware attacks are
- Implement frequent employee cybercrime preparedness training and drills
- Implement periodic pentesting to identify and fix system vulnerabilities
- Engage a third-party professional cybersecurity firm to create advanced threat detection and incident response processes to identify and mitigate ransomware attacks
- Adopt AI-powered cybercrime prevention tools
- Adopt data backup and system segmentation to facilitate fast recovery after a ransomware attack
Partner with a Professional Cybersecurity Firm
Ransomware remains the top cybersecurity threat, globally. As technology evolves, we expect to experience a larger dependence on emerging technologies by hackers to perpetrate malicious acts. Companies face a greater risk; however, you can prevent severe damage with a combination of tools and human expertise.
At CyberClan, we help organizations build a more robust, advanced, and comprehensive ransomware support plan through our proactive risk management services. Our methodology identifies Cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities, builds secure architecture, and strengthens existing systems. We deploy services like Phishing Simulation Programs, Tabletop Exercises, Incident Response Plans, and Policy Development to help you protect your systems and avoid litigation from data breaches.
Contact us to develop and implement a robust and secure security infrastructure to prepare for the AI-powered ransomware era and keep your system, and data, safe.
