Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a productivity tool. Security experts often say that, in the realm of cybercrime, AI is evolving the threat landscape much more quickly than anyone anticipated.
India sees a surge in AI-powered attacks
As per a report by the Economic Times, in 2024-25, the number of cyber incidents in India was reported to have increased, and experts have pointed to the increasing use of AI-based tools in phishing and malware attacks. No more are organised groups simply sending out random phishing scams, not knowing whether they will hit their mark or not. Now, they can send out thousands of automated attacks at once and adjust their approach in real-time.
Deepfakes and hyper-real scams on the rise
AI can now generate convincing video and audio in minutes, and scammers have been using these to carry out CEO impersonation scams and fake bank calls. In some cases, they have even managed to evade the verification process itself. The sophistication of these scams means that it’s getting difficult to tell the real thing from the fake.
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Smarter phishing, fewer red flags
Generative AI has also made phishing scams much more sophisticated, and the emails sent out in these scams are now grammatically correct and tailored to specific roles and people. The usual filters that look out for spelling and grammar errors are failing to flag these emails, and the phishing scams are succeeding at a higher rate than before.
Malware that adapts on its own
According to the report by The Economic Times, security agencies report the emergence of AI-enabled malware that can rewrite parts of its code to avoid detection. Signature-based antivirus systems struggle against such threats because the malicious software keeps changing its appearance. This allows infections to spread faster and remain hidden for longer periods.
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AI versus AI: The new cyber arms race
In response to the threat, Indian firms are launching AI-based defence solutions. These monitor the network’s behaviour, detect unusual login patterns, and contain them before the problem gets out of hand. They are also employing deep fake detection to observe unusual things like blinking, tone changes, etc.
