Personalized Hacking Will Be A Pretty Fierce Bear

Have you ever received an email or text from someone claiming to have a lucrative financial opportunity that requires you to send some money or share your personal details? It's a tactic that has become increasingly popular, especially among Nigerian scammers. However, this is just the beginning of a new era in cybersecurity threats.

The future of hacking will be more personalized and sophisticated than ever before. Tomorrow's scammer may know everything about you, including where you work, how you work, what motivates you, and who your family members are. This level of personalization is made possible by the widespread availability of information online and the ease with which AI can scrape and analyze this data.

The cybersecurity industry is facing a severe worker shortage, making it difficult for companies to keep up with the growing number of attack vectors. According to John Keister, CEO of MixMode, "AI is shifting Cybersecurity from reactive to predictive." However, legacy platforms are slowing down customers due to their complexity and reliance on rules.

The lack of skilled workers in cybersecurity is a major issue, with companies struggling to address the growing number of attack vectors. As a result, the attack surface has become too big for companies to handle alone. The regulatory context also plays a significant role, with spates of new cybersecurity laws and regulations creating a complex landscape for companies to navigate.

Companies like 7AI are leveraging AI agents to battle hacking in the AI age. Yonatan Amit, CEO and co-founder of 7AI, believes that AI can alleviate the load on human workers in cybersecurity. "AI can take a very long and complex path, but explaining every single step it's doing, and why," he said.

Amit also emphasized the importance of self-hacking, which he described as a "double-edged sword." It requires the right context and self-awareness about your network. However, he also warned that the dark web is not just a place where hackers operate, but rather an environment full of data that can be used to infiltrate networks.

The trend towards AI agents in cybersecurity will become more prominent in 2025. As companies continue to struggle with the human skills gap, smart automation will play a crucial role in addressing this issue. Look for AI-only companies to compete with those that have human leadership and humans working the front lines.

The Future of Cybersecurity

The future of cybersecurity is one where AI agents are becoming increasingly sophisticated. As these systems become more prevalent, it's essential for companies to stay ahead of the curve and invest in smart automation to address the growing skills gap.

With the rise of personalized hacking, cybersecurity defenders have an advantage. They own the networks that are being competed for, define what checkpoints are, controls, policies, and monitors all of these signals. However, this requires a significant amount of resources and expertise, which is why companies are struggling to keep up.

The regulatory landscape is also changing rapidly, with new cybersecurity laws and regulations emerging regularly. Companies must navigate this complex landscape to ensure compliance and stay ahead of the threats.

The Importance of Self-Hacking

Self-hacking has become a crucial skill in the cybersecurity industry. It requires the right context and self-awareness about your network, but can be a powerful tool for identifying vulnerabilities and staying one step ahead of hackers.

Amit described self-hacking as a "double-edged sword." While it can be beneficial, it also requires caution and expertise to avoid falling victim to social engineering tactics.

The Dark Web: A New Frontier

The dark web is not just a place where hackers operate; it's an environment full of data that can be used to infiltrate networks. According to Amit, the dark web is where hackers start their journey, often using social engineering and other tactics to gain initial access.

As AI agents become more prevalent in cybersecurity, it's essential for companies to stay aware of the dangers of the dark web and the tactics that hackers use to infiltrate networks.

The Future of Cybersecurity: Trends to Watch

2025 is expected to be a significant year for the cybersecurity industry, with AI agents becoming increasingly prominent. As companies continue to struggle with the human skills gap, smart automation will play a crucial role in addressing this issue.

Look for AI-only companies to compete with those that have human leadership and humans working the front lines. The future of cybersecurity is one where AI agents are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and companies must stay ahead of the curve to remain competitive.