AI agents, with their sophisticated abilities, have the potential to be used for cyberattacks by identifying vulnerable targets, hijacking systems, and stealing data.
Cybercriminals are not yet deploying AI agents at scale for attacks, but researchers have shown that these agents can execute complex attacks successfully.
Experts anticipate a future where the majority of cyberattacks will be carried out by AI agents, posing significant challenges for cybersecurity.
Detecting AI agents in real-world attacks remains a challenge, leading to the development of systems like LLM Agent Honeypot to track and defend against potential threats.
AI agents offer cybercriminals a cheaper and more scalable alternative to traditional hacks, making them appealing for orchestrating various types of attacks.
Compared to bots, AI agents possess greater adaptability and evasion capabilities, enabling them to tailor attacks and avoid detection.
By using prompt-injection techniques, researchers have identified potential AI agents attempting to access vulnerable servers, highlighting the need for advanced detection methods.
The criminal use of agentic AI is still evolving, with experts uncertain about the timeline for widespread agent-orchestrated attacks in the future.
AI's role in cyberattacks is seen as an accelerant to existing techniques, emphasizing the importance of consistent detection and response strategies.
AI systems can also be employed for vulnerability detection and protection, potentially aiding in safeguarding systems against intrusive attacks.