AI-powered security: A double-edged sword.

The development of artificial intelligence presents a major paradox in the security industry: AI is both the most robust defensive shield and the most dangerous offensive weapon.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping every aspect of life, and cybersecurity is no exception. However, the rapid development of this technology is creating a major paradox: AI is both the most robust defensive shield and the most dangerous offensive weapon. At the BSides Hanoi 2025 event, themed "AI Hack You," leading experts dissected the nature of this double-edged sword, outlining a comprehensive picture of cyber warfare in the new era.

According to Mr. Vu Duy Hien, Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Office of the National Cybersecurity Association, AI is currently one of the technologies playing a particularly important role, supporting individuals and businesses in many fields and helping to process work faster and more efficiently. However, in the cybersecurity space, AI is a double-edged sword.

AI - The Intelligent 'Bodyguard'

Undeniably, AI is bringing tremendous advancements to the cybersecurity industry. “On the positive side, AI helps us detect attacks early, analyze data, and enhance network defenses. Many intelligent security tools developed thanks to AI have significantly reduced response times to threats,” affirmed Mr. Vu Duy Hien.

Mr. Vu Duy Hien - Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Office, National Cybersecurity Association - at the Conference.

This strength is clearly demonstrated through the sharing of Ms. Huynh Ngoc Khanh Minh, a member of the non-profit Anti-Fraud Network. She said that previously, when fraud prevention work mainly relied on manual processes, experts had to verify each suspicious link individually, causing significant delays in handling tens of thousands of reports every day.

To overcome that limitation, the Anti-Phishing team has developed a new AI tool. “Users simply paste the link, and the AI ​​will automatically check and display the results within 30 seconds to 1 minute with an accuracy of up to 98% ,” said Ms. Khanh Minh. “ Thanks to this, the verification time is shortened dozens of times compared to before, helping people proactively detect and prevent online fraud risks effectively and completely free of charge.”

Globally , leading cybersecurity platforms have also extensively integrated AI. The Darktrace system uses self-learning AI to build an "immune system" for businesses, automatically detecting even the smallest anomalies that could be signs of an unknown attack. Similarly, the CrowdStrike Falcon platform uses machine learning and behavioral analysis to prevent sophisticated attacks, rather than relying solely on known malware signatures.

These tools demonstrate how AI is helping cybersecurity professionals shift from a passive to a proactive approach, preventing threats before they can cause damage.

AI - A weapon in the hands of the bad guys.

The dark side of the coin is equally dazzling. It is the superior capabilities of AI that have made it a coveted tool for cybercriminals. Mr. Vu Duy Hien pointed out: “Conversely, cybercriminals are also leveraging AI to develop more sophisticated attack methods, capable of bypassing many layers of traditional defenses. The speed, scale, and accuracy of cyberattacks are therefore increasing dramatically.”

Phishing attacks are highly personalized: Using large language models (LLMs), hackers can generate a mass of emails and messages with natural-sounding language and context tailored to each target, making it possible for even the most cautious users to be deceived.

The rise of Deepfake: Cybercriminals can impersonate the voice or video of a CEO to request urgent money transfers. A famous case involved criminals using AI to impersonate the voice of a British energy company CEO to successfully scam $243,000.

Polymorphic malware: AI can be used to create malware that automatically changes its source code after each infection, rendering traditional antivirus software ineffective.

Automating the attack process: Hackers can deploy AI to automatically scan millions of systems for vulnerabilities, carrying out denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks or cracking passwords at breakneck speed, amplifying the scale of the attack many times over.

The human factor and the never-ending race.

Given this reality, experts agree that the cybersecurity war in the AI ​​era is a race between "good AI" and "bad AI." And at the heart of this race, the human element becomes even more crucial.

Mr. Truong Duc Luong - Chairman of VSEC - at the seminar.

Mr. Truong Duc Luong, Chairman of Vietnam Cyber ​​Security Joint Stock Company (VSEC), stated that with 22 years of experience, he has observed a lack of opportunities for collaboration and sharing of in-depth knowledge between Vietnamese cybersecurity professionals and the world, while the international cybersecurity community is very active. This highlights the urgent need to build a strong community.

In response to this concern, Mr. Vu Duy Hien stated: "AI is an irreversible trend, so instead of worrying, the cybersecurity community needs to cooperate, share experiences, and together build a secure defense ecosystem that adapts to the new era."

Furthermore, the challenges are not limited to technical aspects. According to lawyer Nhi Pham, although Vietnam has legal documents in place, investigation and prosecution still face many challenges because violations are often cross-border, making tracing and recovering assets difficult. She believes that to minimize risks, close cooperation and mutual understanding between technical and legal teams are essential.

Ultimately, the key to success is continuous capability enhancement. Mr. Hien emphasized that combating cybercrime in the AI ​​era requires every user and every business to constantly update their technology, and especially, cybersecurity experts need to improve their professional skills and proactively develop new solutions.

The double-edged sword of AI has presented both a major challenge and an unprecedented opportunity for cybersecurity. The future of cyberspace depends on how we use and control this powerful tool. The confrontation between defensive and offensive AI will be an endless arms race, and victory will only go to the side that is better prepared, collaborates more closely, and constantly learns and innovates.

Huy Quang

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/bao-mat-bang-ai-con-dao-hai-luoi-ar970604.html