What Is the Future of Computer Security | Antivirus

Sameeratakhtani
3 min readJan 2, 2021

Although they are not inherent technologies of defense systems, it is expected that the future of computer security will include Artificial Intelligence and machine learning in its designs.

While dependence on technology continues to grow in the routines of people and companies, the risk of computer attacks, also known in English as cyberattacks, also increases.

It does not matter if it is an individual email hoax or corporate data that affects millions of people at the same time, the increase in cyber attacks and the increase in their reach has become relevant today.

Cybersecurity Ventures agency predicts that the number of humans on the Internet will triple from 2015 to 2020, reaching 6 billion users. And, by 2030, that number will reach 7.5 billion people.

Artificial Intelligence

In the article “How AI and Blockchain Will Shape the Future of Cybersecurity,” from futureofeverything.com, Avast’s CTO & GM of Consumer Ondrej Vlcek talks about artificial intelligence (AI).

According to the expert, the availability of low-cost computers and storage, generic machine learning algorithms, and open platforms (AI), will support both users and hackers.
“There will be complicated attacks delivered on a large scale and quickly and effectively, with little human intrusion, and they will compromise our digital devices and web infrastructure,” he predicts.

Hackers will create fully autonomous, AI-based attacks that operate completely independently, adapt, and make decisions of their own.

“Computer security specialists will need to develop and run defense systems also based on AI. Humans will have to supervise the process ”, he adds.

Technology Has Matured

Even though some companies have recently rolled out the use of AI and machine learning for their security products, this has actually been around for a long time (over 10 years).

This is how antivirus works in what is called “behavioral or anomaly detection”.

“Machine learning algorithms are those that allow or support new systems with AI, making them much more productive and effective,” reveals Ph.D. Marco Antonio To, Director of the Postgraduate Program in Computer Security and the Research Lab in ICTs at the Galileo University.

AI and machine learning aren’t new, but the technology has matured enough that IT security companies have included them in their commercial products.

“The academy continues to do research on these issues, as there is much room for improvement in current practices,” adds Ph.D. To.

Also in the part of information security, other non-technical variables also enter, such as ethics and privacy and how far a system that makes decisions “alone” can be left.

“This in practice is seen when equipment is installed, which, since they are not well configured or ‘trained’, instead of being an advantage for the organization, become entities that are a stumbling block for business continuity”, concludes To.

Productivity

In the note “A Glimpse into the Future of Cybersecurity” by smartbrief.com, founder and CEO of Cybersecurity Ventures, Steve Morgan, predicts that jobs will increase demand for computer security.

Cybersecurity Ventures predicts that by 2021 there will be 3.5 million vacancies in the IT security field, compared to 1 million positions in 2014.

“As the job crisis in this field worsens, AI and machine learning promise to increase productivity with powerful systems,” says the expert.

“The main problem is that the world faces a shortage of security experts who know how to effectively evaluate and develop the best use of these technologies, which are not inherent in cybersecurity,” he adds.

What is certain is that there will be a long learning curve for organizations that will adapt them to be effective in the field of cyber defense.

Trends

Forbes magazine published the trends that are expected to increase over the next decade. These are:

· Nations-sponsored organizations will continue to develop defense technologies for cyber attacks.

· Criminal groups will continue to search for ways to use cyberattacks for their financial gain.

· Terrorist groups will transfer their activities to cyberspace.

· People with the necessary technical skills, but for no obvious reason, will continue to contribute to the attack ecosystem, as a way to present their skills.

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