AI-driven malware poses rising threat to Australia’s critical infrastructure
A new review warns of AI-driven attacks and state-sponsored hackers embedding in Australia’s critical infrastructure networks, preparing for potential future conflicts.
Malicious cyber attackers are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to create sophisticated, adaptable malware and highly tailored social engineering attacks, according to a new review of the nation’s critical infrastructure
The federal government’s second annual risk review of critical infrastructure has warned that hackers are embracing, integrating and evolving the use of AI in their operations — a particular risk for critical infrastructure sectors including energy, water, food, health care, transport networks, financial systems and communications.
The review, conducted by the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre within the Department of Home Affairs, cautions that AI is significantly boosting hackers’ abilities to conduct attacks “at greater speed, scale and effectiveness, and at a rate that may outpace many system defence capabilities”.
“AI is already facilitating the creation of adaptable malware and enabling more realistic and tailored social engineering attacks to manipulate targets,” says the review, which was released on Thursday morning.
