Figure 3

How to Defend Against AI-Powered Cyberattacks

A. For Businesses

• AI-Based Threat Detection: Deploy tools like Darktrace or Microsoft Sentinel to detect anomalies.

• Zero-Trust Security Models: Verify every access request, even from "trusted" sources.

• Employee Training: Teach staff to recognize AI-generated scams (e.g., voice cloning, phishing).

B. For Individuals

• Verify Suspicious Calls/Emails: Use secondary authentication (e.g., call back via official numbers).

• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Prevents AI-driven credential stuffing attacks.

• Use AI Security Tools: Some antivirus software now includes AI-based behavioral analysis.

C. For Governments & Tech Companies

• Regulate AI Misuse: Laws to prevent malicious AI tools (e.g., banning deepfake scams).

• Ethical AI Development: Ensure AI models (like ChatGPT) have built-in security restrictions.

How SBIT Prepares Students for AI Cybersecurity Threats?

A. Professional Degree in Software Engineering

• Advanced Web Application Design (React, PHP, MySQL)

  • Build secure apps resistant to AI-generated SQL injections or phishing attacks

• Learn Python, AI and Machine Learning

• Understand the skills to reverse-engineer cyberattacks, analyze malware behavior, and predict emerging threats.

B. Professional Degree in IT Support

• Cloud Management

  • Learn to secure AWS/Azure environments where AI-driven attacks (e.g., automated exploits) often target misconfigured cloud services.

• Cyber Security

  • Study AI-powered threat detection, penetration testing, and ethical hacking to counter adaptive malware.

C. Professional Diploma in Software Engineering

• Relational Database Management (RDBMS)

  • Understand the concept of secure databases against AI-automated brute-force attacks.

• System Analysis and Design

  • Design systems with security-first principles to mitigate social engineering risks.

D. Professional Diploma in IT Support

• Computer Security Fundamentals

  • Understand encryption, zero-trust models, and behavioral analysis to stop deepfake scams.

  • Learn firewall or antivirus tools to detect traditional and AI-enhanced threats.       

Bridging Degrees and Diplomas: Shared Cybersecurity Principles

 

Topic	Degree Focus (Advanced)	Diploma Focus (Foundation)
AI Threat Prevention	AI-driven security tools (Darktrace, Fortinet)	Basic phishing/scam recognition
Tech Stack	Multi-cloud microservices security	On-premises server/network security
Attack Response	Proactive AI and machine Learning monitoring	Reactive (patch management, network devices)

Conclusion

AI is like a superpower—it can protect or destroy, depending on who uses it. And right now, scammers are using AI to get smarter, faster, and sneakier. If you're not upgrading your knowledge, you’re already falling behind. Think scams only happen to “uncle and auntie”? Think again. Students, teachers, even engineers and lecturers have all fallen victim this year alone.