The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi Inuwa, has warned that synthetic intelligence, AI, is making cyber attacks extra subtle, rising the risk of on-line fraud, social engineering, deepfakes and disinformation.
Addressing ICT journalists in Abuja, Inuwa stated cybersecurity within the age of AI differs considerably from attacks carried out earlier than the know-how grew to become broadly accessible, noting that AI can strengthen each cyber attacks and defence mechanisms.
“That means you can use AI to attack or to defend. Attacking with AI is more successful than attacking before AI. Likewise, defending,” he stated.
The NITDA chief defined that the rising use of AI brokers to automate organisational workflows might expose establishments to severe dangers if hackers acquire management of the programs.
“Imagine someone hijacking your AI agent. It’s like someone taking over control of your staff. It will make attack very easy for anyone taking over your AI data,” he stated.
He added that though AI might make cyber attacks simpler, it might additionally enhance risk detection and allow organisations to reply extra successfully to safety breaches.
Inuwa, nonetheless, warned that human beings had been more and more turning into targets of cybercriminals, who exploit psychological weaknesses and social engineering relatively than trying to breach pc programs straight.
“As a hacker, it’s easier for me to hack humans than hacking systems. If I can do social engineering tricks to get to do what I want, why should I spend days or months trying to break into a system?” he asked.
He expressed concern over the influence of social media, noting that people increasingly rely on online platforms for news and information, making them vulnerable to AI-generated content designed to manipulate their beliefs and decisions.
“Imagine someone using AI-generated content, manipulating us, controlling what to see, what to believe, and so on,” Inuwa said.
He stressed the need to protect both technological infrastructure and human networks against misinformation, disinformation and fake news, arguing that national cybersecurity must extend beyond computer systems to include the information people consume.
He said that the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, will be partnering in spreading the message on the dangers of cybersecurity.
