Microsoft Turns to AI to Combat Hackers

Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated, and fraudsters, criminals, and even state-backed hackers are increasingly using advanced techniques. Microsoft believes only AI can effectively counter these threats.

According to Vasu Jakkal, the company’s security vice president, Microsoft monitored 30 billion phishing emails last year alone. She noted that the sheer volume is beyond human capacity to manage. To tackle this, Microsoft is deploying 11 cybersecurity AI agents designed to detect and filter suspicious emails, block hacking attempts, and gather intelligence on potential cyber threats.

Microsoft, whose Windows software runs on nearly 70% of global computers, has long been a primary target for hackers. As more businesses depend on its cloud services, cybercriminals see the company’s infrastructure as a lucrative target.

Unlike traditional AI assistants that perform simple tasks like booking appointments, these AI agents operate autonomously, analyzing threats and taking action without user input.

The dark web has become a marketplace for cybercrime, offering ready-to-use malware for phishing attacks. AI has also enabled criminals to automate cyberattacks, making them more frequent and effective. Jakkal notes that the number of organized hacking groups, whether backed by governments or working independently, has increased fivefold. This shift has created what she refers to as a $9.2 trillion cybercriminal “gig economy.”

Some of the AI security agents have been developed by Microsoft, while others come from external partners. They will be integrated into Microsoft’s Copilot AI suite, primarily assisting cybersecurity and IT teams.

However, concerns remain about giving AI agents too much control over user data. Signal CEO Meredith Whittaker recently warned that AI agents rely entirely on the data they can access, raising privacy concerns. She pointed out that companies deploying such AI tools might be tempted to collect more user data, potentially compromising privacy.

Microsoft, however, insists that its AI agents are designed with strict limitations. Each agent is assigned a specific task and can only access relevant data. The company also employs a “zero trust system,” continuously monitoring its AI tools to ensure they operate within predefined security parameters.

The launch of AI-powered cybersecurity tools from an industry leader like Microsoft will be closely observed. Cybersecurity failures can have massive consequences, as seen last July when a minor coding error in an application used by CrowdStrike led to the crash of approximately 8.5 million Windows-powered computers. The outage, considered the most significant in computing history, disrupted hospitals, airports, rail networks, and businesses worldwide, some of which took weeks to recover.

AI firms like D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) involved in AI development need to come up with ways to forestall cyberattacks targeting the solutions they provide so that they increase the market appeal of their innovations.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/QBTS

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