AI has made cyber attacks easier, puts human minds at risk – Inuwa warns
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi Inuwa, has cautioned that advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly sophisticated, thereby elevating the risk of cyber attacks, online fraud, and the proliferation of disinformation.
In an address to ICT journalists in Abuja, Inuwa emphasized that cybersecurity has evolved significantly since the advent of AI technology. He noted that AI has the capability to enhance both offensive cyber attacks and defensive measures. “That means you can use AI to attack or to defend. Attacking with AI is more successful than it was before AI,” Inuwa stated.
Inuwa elaborated that while the deployment of AI agents to automate workflows can increase efficiency, it also poses serious risks. If hackers gain access to these systems, the potential for exploitation grows substantially. He likened a compromised AI agent to an individual taking control of an employee, which would simplify the process for attackers. “It will make an attack very easy for anyone taking over your AI data,” he said.
Despite the challenges posed by AI, Inuwa pointed out its benefits as well. He noted that AI can enhance threat detection and improve organizational responses to security breaches. However, he expressed concern that human targets are increasingly attractive to cybercriminals, who often use psychological manipulation and social engineering tactics instead of directly attacking computer systems.
“As a hacker, it’s easier for me to hack humans than to hack systems,” Inuwa remarked. “If I can employ social engineering tricks to achieve my objectives, why should I spend days or months attempting to breach a system?”
He also highlighted the influence of social media, stating that an increasing number of individuals rely on these platforms for news and information, making them susceptible to AI-generated content designed to sway their beliefs and decisions. “Imagine someone using AI-generated content to manipulate us, controlling what we see and what we believe,” Inuwa warned.
The NITDA chief called for comprehensive protection strategies that safeguard not only technological infrastructure but also human networks from misinformation and fake news. He argued that national cybersecurity must encompass the information that individuals consume.
To address these challenges, Inuwa announced that NITDA will collaborate with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to disseminate information about the dangers of cybersecurity and the importance of vigilance in the digital age.
