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 refined, 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 expertise grew to become extensively accessible, 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 might expose establishments to critical dangers if hackers achieve management of the programs.
“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 might make cyber attacks simpler, it might additionally enhance menace detection and allow organisations to reply extra successfully to safety breaches.
Inuwa, nevertheless, warned that human beings have been more and more turning into targets of cybercriminals, who exploit psychological weaknesses and social engineering reasonably than making an attempt to breach laptop programs straight.
“As a hacker, it is simpler for me to hack people than hacking programs. If I can do social engineering tips 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 data, 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 burdened the necessity to defend each technological infrastructure and human networks towards misinformation, disinformation and pretend information, arguing that nationwide cybersecurity should lengthen past laptop programs to incorporate the data folks eat.
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.
