Washington: Microsoft’s annual digital threats report, which came out on Thursday, says that Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea have greatly increased their use of AI to hack into US computers and spread false information online.
The investigation discovered that more than 200 foreign enemies used AI to make phony information online this July. This is more than double the amount from July 2024 and ten times the number from 2023.
Cyber Threats Made Worse by AI
Microsoft’s research shows how AI is helping enemies to:
Make cyberattacks easier and better.
Share false information and content that makes people angry.
Make phishing emails that look real in fluent English.
Make fake digital copies of high-ranking authorities to trick people.
Amy Hogan-Burney, Microsoft’s VP for customer security and trust, said, “We see this as a pivotal moment when innovation is moving so quickly.” “This is the year when you really need to put money into the basics of cybersecurity.”
Cybercriminals, who often work with state actors like Russia, also use AI to steal trade secrets, install ransomware, and demand payments.
The U.S. is the main target
The United States is still the most attacked country online, followed by Israel and Ukraine. This is because of hostilities that are still going on. North Korea, in particular, has established fake American identities with AI to get into IT companies from a distance, where they can steal salaries while getting access to private information or planting malware.
The Digital Threat Landscape Is Getting Bigger
Microsoft says that organizations and institutions are at risk because their cyber defenses are out of date and attacks are getting more complex. AI tools can be both a threat and a way to protect yourself by finding false accounts and strange behavior.
Nicole Jiang, CEO of the AI security company Fable, said, “Cyber is a cat-and-mouse game.” “Access, data, information, and money are what they want.”
The report stresses how important it is for businesses to improve their digital security and spend money on AI-powered defense systems to protect themselves from rising cyber threats.