The rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has driven growth across industries but has also opened new avenues for cybercriminals to launch sophisticated attacks, according to Kaspersky, a leading global cybersecurity and digital privacy company. Kaspersky emphasized the urgent need for businesses to invest in proactive cybersecurity measures to address these emerging challenges.

Kaspersky has been integrating AI across its products, using advanced AI models to counter threats and enhance the resilience of its technologies against evolving cyberattacks. The company highlighted the increasing misuse of AI by cybercriminals, from leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT to create malicious software and automate attacks, to using AI programs to track smartphone inputs, potentially compromising sensitive information such as messages, passwords, and bank codes.

In 2023, Kaspersky’s solutions protected 220,000 businesses worldwide and prevented approximately 6.1 billion attacks. The company also reported saving 325,000 unique users from potential financial thefts related to banking trojans. In 2024, Kaspersky has been detecting an average of over 411,000 malicious samples daily, up from 403,000 in the previous year.

Vitaly Kamluk, a cybersecurity expert with Kaspersky’s Global Research & Analysis Team (GREAT), noted that the scale of these cyberattacks is only possible through automation and the misuse of AI. Recent research by Kaspersky on AI-driven password cracking revealed that 32% of user passwords are not robust enough and can be decrypted using a simple brute-force algorithm within an hour.

The company also warned of the growing threat of deep fakes, which are increasingly being used in scams and to steal user accounts. Detecting deep fakes remains a significant technical challenge, but experts believe it will be a crucial area for future cybersecurity research.

In the face of these escalating threats, Kaspersky urged organizations to aim for 100% system uptime and to strengthen their defensive AI capabilities to maintain business resilience. The company also called for the swift implementation of regulations and ethical standards in the field of AI and Generative AI to keep pace with these rapidly evolving technologies.