The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi Inuwa, has warned that synthetic intelligence, AI, is making cyber attacks extra subtle, rising the risk of on-line fraud, social engineering, deepfakes and disinformation.
Addressing ICT journalists in Abuja, Inuwa stated cybersecurity within the age of AI differs considerably from attacks carried out earlier than the know-how grew to become extensively out there, noting that AI can strengthen each cyber attacks and defence mechanisms.
“That means you can use AI to attack or to defend. Attacking with AI is more successful than attacking before AI. Likewise, defending,” he stated.
The NITDA chief defined that the rising use of AI brokers to automate organisational workflows may expose establishments to severe dangers if hackers achieve management of the techniques.
“Imagine someone hijacking your AI agent. It’s like someone taking over control of your staff. It will make attack very easy for anyone taking over your AI data,” he stated.
He added that though AI may make cyber attacks simpler, it may additionally enhance risk detection and allow organisations to reply extra successfully to safety breaches.
Inuwa, nonetheless, warned that human beings had been more and more changing into targets of cybercriminals, who exploit psychological weaknesses and social engineering relatively than making an attempt to breach pc techniques straight.
“As a hacker, it is simpler for me to hack people than hacking techniques. If I can do social engineering methods to get to do what I need, why ought to I spend days or months making an attempt to interrupt right into a system?” he requested.
He expressed concern over the affect of social media, noting that folks more and more depend on on-line platforms for information and knowledge, making them susceptible to AI-generated content material designed to govern their beliefs and choices.
“Imagine someone using AI-generated content, manipulating us, controlling what to see, what to believe, and so on,” Inuwa stated.
He careworn the necessity to shield each technological infrastructure and human networks towards misinformation, disinformation and pretend information, arguing that nationwide cybersecurity should lengthen past pc techniques to incorporate the data individuals devour.
He stated that the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, will likely be partnering in spreading the message on the hazards of cybersecurity.
