A recent survey by American cybersecurity firm Fortinet, together with the International Data Corporation (IDC), reveals a significant rise in AI-fueled cyberattacks targeting organizations in the Philippines. The survey highlights that 78% of Philippine organizations observed and faced AI-powered threats over the past year, with more than a quarter reporting a threefold increase in such attacks. The survey underscores the growing sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks fueled by artificial intelligence.
Attackers leverage AI to rapidly scan for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations on the web, exponentially increasing the number of potential attacks. AI has also made phishing emails harder to detect due to the use of deepfake impersonations and targeted social engineering, creating more realistic and believable threats. Fortinet isn’t the only entity raising concerns about AI-driven cyber threats.
In 2024, Kaspersky reported 53 million brute-force attacks in Southeast Asia, which attempt to guess passwords to gain unauthorized access to systems. Indonesia and Malaysia witnessed significant year-over-year increases in such attacks, with AI suspected to play a role. The Fortinet-IDC survey encompassed responses from 550 IT and security leaders, including 50 from the Philippines, from companies with at least 250 employees in the Asia-Pacific region.
AI-fueled cyberattack increase
The respondents identified the most common attacks as follows:
– Ransomware (66%)
– Software supply chain attacks (62%)
– Cloud vulnerabilities (58%)
– Insider threats (56%)
– Phishing (50%)
Insider threats, where employees may jeopardize cybersecurity or steal data, remain a notable concern despite advances in adversarial AI technology. Traditional threats like malware and phishing have reportedly slowed down, but supply chain attacks, internet-of-things device vulnerabilities, cloud service attacks, and zero-day exploits remain the fastest-growing categories.
Cybersecurity staffing challenges persist, with only 7% of an organization’s workforce dedicated to IT and an even smaller portion focused on cybersecurity. Most organizations (63%) combine cybersecurity roles with broader IT roles, and only 15% of the overall IT budget is typically allocated to cybersecurity. Though there has been slight growth in this area, it remains minimal.
The rise in cyber threats has broader implications for society, as individuals and businesses increasingly rely on digital transactions. While organizations face financial losses from attacks, consumers who have entrusted their data to these organizations also risk exposure if adequate protections are not in place. Interestingly, AI is not just a threat but could also serve as a defense.
IDC’s research vice president for Asia-Pacific, Simon Piff, emphasized the need for AI-accelerated defense strategies. Fortinet’s country head, Bambi Escalante, noted their efforts in helping customers transition from piecemeal defenses to AI-powered security solutions.
Rashan is a seasoned technology journalist and visionary leader serving as the Editor-in-Chief of DevX.com, a leading online publication focused on software development, programming languages, and emerging technologies. With his deep expertise in the tech industry and her passion for empowering developers, Rashan has transformed DevX.com into a vibrant hub of knowledge and innovation. Reach out to Rashan at [email protected]
