The growing popularity and use of artificial intelligence (AI) has created new problems and solutions in the cyber security domain. Since most businesses rely heavily on digital systems to operate and expand, hackers and spammers are utilizing AI to overcome the security barriers between them and organizations. The role of spam filters in cyber security should never be underestimated in the modern business environment. There is a constant battle between organizations (using AI-based spam filters) and spammers (using AI to overcome spam filters) in the current market. Let us walk you through the details to paint a better picture.
Spammers and AI - A Deadly Combo?
The number of spam attempts significantly rose over the past several years. Many organizations received tons of spam emails, flooding the official mailboxes frequently. With more spam filtering solutions coming to the market, businesses incorporated spam filters to overcome spamming problems. However, the introduction of AI (and its various forms) has brought businesses to a new corner of challenges.
With businesses relying on AI-based spam filtering solutions to overcome spamming attempts, spammers have left no stone unturned to join the battle and utilize AI for their own good. Modern-day spammers are more likely to treat popular spam filters like CAPTCHA lightly due to more advanced spamming techniques. If you wonder how typical spam filter software may no longer benefit your organization, let us walk you through the techniques spammers use to overcome filters nowadays.
Text-Mimicking
Currently, the global IT industry is full of spam filters that detect texts in emails that can be regarded as spam. Many large organizations spend huge amounts on such systems to overcome spamming problems. Since large business entities have much at stake, they take (almost) every step to minimize hacking attempts.
While it may come as a shock to many, modern spammers have joined hands with AI tools to mimic text that can be legitimized as regular emails. Text-mimicking has become a powerful tool for spammers to overcome spam filters employed by organizations.
Personalized Messages
Gone are the days when spammers used obvious subject lines to lure users into opening a malicious email. Anti-spam software development has made it nearly impossible to allow such emails to land in a user’s mailbox without marking them as spam. While valid, the use of AI has enabled spammers to fetch a user’s personal information to generate legitimate emails.
These emails are more likely to bypass filters and land in a user’s inbox. When they click on it, we can imagine the series of malicious events that follow.
Varying Content and Patterns
A typical spam filtering service can effectively detect the nature of the content and a spam email’s pattern. If a spammer sends multiple messages, such filters can flag them as spam based on the similarity of patterns. However, AI has made it super easy for spammers to bring variations to the content and sending patterns.
Such techniques enable spammers to bypass spam filters and land in the user’s inbox. Users often assume an impression of a spam email to be cautious. Imagine receiving a legitimate email with realistic information that exposes you to the risk of malicious attempts. You may be unable to dodge spammers every once.
Image-Based Spamming
In recent years, image-based spamming attempts have become more common. Spammers are well aware of how text-based spam filters operate. The use of image-based spam emails has created a new set of challenges for organizations in avoiding malicious attempts. Text-based spam filters are no longer helpful in filtering harmful emails.
Artificial intelligence in cyber security has helped some IT companies to develop image spam filters. However, they may take some time to reach every other organization in the competitive industry.
Use of Machine Learning Algorithms
AI and machine learning in cyber security have created more opportunities for spammers to exploit spamming filters. Since spam filters are developed by expert IT firms, hackers can identify loopholes in such systems and bypass them to access a user’s mailbox. Machine learning is an important tool for exploiting vulnerabilities in software.
Although modern developments hint at the use of AI and ML in battling spamming attempts, the ongoing evolution in the industry makes it challenging for organizations to remain (consistently) safe from threats to cyber security.
Domain Spoofing
Another method AI spammers use to lure end users into accessing spam emails, and links is domain spoofing. Hackers employ AI tools to develop masked domains that resemble legitimate websites. When users access them, malicious programs enter their systems and invade their privacy. Masked domains are difficult for spamming filters to recognize and flag as spam.
The objective of hackers behind gaining access to an end user’s personal information may vary. If the user is part of a large organization, hackers may compromise organizational data to use it for their own good. Typically, hackers target those with higher designations in large organizations to access private databases.
How Can Managed IT Services Fight Spammers?
Managed IT service providers can utilize AI-based systems to develop robust spam filtering solutions. While a software development company may be able to develop such products for organizations, managed IT service teams can effectively improve spam filtering services to best meet the demands of businesses.
It is worth noting that using AI and machine learning facilitates both spammers and end users based on how efficiently they fit into each’s demands. Businesses must continuously incorporate modern developments in cyber security to overcome hacking attempts. Organizations with in-house IT teams may not develop foolproof spam filtering systems alone. Not many companies have highly capable AI and ML experts to battle spamming attempts.
The Bottomline
The above details highlight the role of spam filters in cyber security management. They also reflect on some common practices spammers use to overcome spam filters with AI. If you are part of a large organization, you may be at a higher risk of receiving spam emails and links in your mailbox. To ensure foolproof data privacy, you may consult a managed IT service provider before it’s too late.
