TECH EXPLAINED: What is Dark AI and why is it dangerous? Learn how to protect yourself from it.
The use of AI is transforming the world today. While its use is increasing productivity and creativity, it is also being misused. This misuse is called Dark AI.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the world. It is drastically improving productivity, creativity, and efficiency, but it is not being used only for good. Many people are misusing this new, cutting-edge technology to commit cybercrimes. From causing financial harm to people to creating deepfakes of their identities, this technology is being widely misused. The use of AI for such malicious purposes is being called Dark AI. Today, we bring you answers to all your questions, including Dark AI, its examples, tools, and ways to prevent it.
What is Dark AI?
Dark AI is also known as Evil AI. Simply put, the use of AI for malicious purposes such as cyberattacks, fraud, scams, misinformation campaigns, and data leaks is called dark AI. It is commonly associated with cybercriminals, scammers, and other fraudsters. With this technology, they are able to launch more sophisticated attacks than before. Some definitions also include the use of AI during warfare as dark AI. The use of AI during the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars is an example of this.
Examples of Dark AI
Deepfakes - These are AI-generated photos or videos that appear to resemble real people. Their faces, gestures, and voices are replicated. Deepfakes are being used to tarnish someone's image.
Misinformation - AI is also being used extensively to spread false, inaccurate, or misleading information. Deepfakes and misinformation are used to mislead people and force them to believe something false. They are being widely used to spread propaganda, from elections to wars.
Phishing - Scammers are using AI to carry out phishing attacks. They send fake messages impersonating a known person. The motives behind this attack can range from spreading malware and stealing sensitive information to extorting money.
Hacking - Another major threat from dark AI is hacking. Hackers are now using AI to crack passwords, mine data, automate hacking, and even compromise security systems.
These are the dangers of dark AI
Concerns are being raised about dark AI because it has multiplied the frequency and impact of cyberattacks. It targets both humans and technical flaws, making these attacks difficult to detect. Furthermore, in areas with low digital literacy, deepfakes can easily entangle people in falsehoods. This has increased the risk of everything from influencing elections to defrauding people. The number of these attacks has increased so rapidly that enforcement and law enforcement agencies have been unable to keep up to date. Now, governments worldwide are pushing for laws to regulate AI.
These are the tools of Dark AI
Tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are used by people to complete tasks. Their security measures are stringent, making them inappropriate for use in Dark AI. Cybercriminals create chatbots using Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI). They also use hacked or jailbroken versions of Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. The following tools are commonly used in Dark AI.
FraudGPT - This is the most widely used dark GPT. It's available on the dark web and is considered an all-in-one solution for cybercriminals. It can perform various functions, including malware write, leak detection, and monitoring targeted sites.
WormGPT - It's most commonly used to create malware and other malicious code. It's also available on the dark web. It's trained on data that mimics real-life hacking techniques, making it extremely dangerous.
PoisonGPT - Developed by a French company, it's not designed to directly attack people. It infects other AI tools by injecting malicious or misleading data into them, which can cause even genuine AI models to generate false information.
How to protect yourself from dark AI?
Exercise caution in communication - Do not open attachments or links in emails or messages from unknown or suspicious individuals. Review emails and messages carefully and open links or files only after thorough verification.
Check the source - Fake news, videos, and images have become increasingly common these days due to AI. Therefore, if a video, news, or image contains sensational or provocative content, be sure to check the original source.
Beware of deepfake videos - There's a flood of fake videos that look like the real thing. Therefore, watch the video carefully. AI-generated videos often have slight variations in the person's expressions, body language, or voice.
Strong passwords - Always use strong and unique passwords to protect your accounts and devices. This reduces the risk of hacking. Don't use the same password across all your devices and social media accounts. Be sure to enable two-factor authentication where possible.
