A new artificial intelligence-based security system could boost defenses against phishing scams and advanced cyber threats.
Bufferzone and Intel presented their new software during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, this week. The AI anti-phishing detection solution has been added to Bufferzone's Safe Workspace platform as a Chrome or Edge browser extension. When installed, the system is constantly running, assessing for potential scams and threats while users are browsing the internet, according to the company. If a malicious website is identified, users will receive a warning from the installed extension.
Experts have lauded the groundbreaking collaboration, indicating that more cyber security companies and vendors may take up similar initiatives as the fight against cyber criminals rages on.
"Endpoint security requires a highly layered approach to mitigate threats; there's no single layer that can alone address all attacks," Dev Nag, founder and CEO at QueryPal, told Tech Times in an interview. "Antivirus/anti-malware, firewalls, email security, and web filtering all play different roles in the endpoint security ecosystem. However, a browser extension makes sense as an important part of the endpoint security stack, and leveraging local neural processors means that users can get the best of both worlds in terms of security and performance. People want safer browsing, but not at the cost of slower browsing."
Lisa Plaggemier, the Executive Director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance, said in an interview that by using a browser extension, the security measure can "empower" internet users as they look to avoid cyber threats.
"By employing advanced algorithms and machine learning, the extension promptly alerts users to potential threats, whether encountered while browsing websites or through suspicious emails, empowering them to make informed decisions and avoid falling victim to phishing scams," Plaggemier told TechTimes.
With this software module, Reema Khan, founder and CEO at Green Sands Equity, said that Bufferzone is "democratizing access to innovative technologies."
"This will accelerate AI adoption, allowing smaller companies and individuals to access the
benefits of AI without the prohibitive capital outlays that are required for GPUs," Khan told TechTimes.
As the AI system is leveraging Intel's Core Ultra processors, Nag did warn that it may indicate the security measure will only work "for the newest generation of laptops."
"The bulk of the corporate fleet will need to turn over to broaden adoption over coming years," Nag said.
For those that have access to cyber threat protection, Nag said the measure goes a step further than traditional security browser extensions - which may be limited to behavioral heuristics and filtering through URL filter lists.
"This product analyzes user traffic at the level of image content and performs static page analysis using AI, meaning it should be able to protect against a broader class of threats and augment the existing layers well," he said.
"For users, this means less risk and a better balance between security and convenience for more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft and social engineering."
Khan also noted that the use of AI in this system allows for higher efficiency when recognizing, indexing, and stopping cyber threats. This is key as the volume of phishing attacks continues to grow and become more difficult to curb with conventional methods.
The anti-phishing system may only make a small difference against cyber threats at first, as it is currently only available for Bufferzone customers, Khan warned. However, she explained that the measure is attractive to users and could be implemented by larger players if the cyber security company sees success in its adoption.
"As widespread adoption begins, we will see increased effectiveness in the threats present to everyday users," Khan said.
Bufferzone and Intel did not respond to TechTime's requests for comment.
About the author: Callie Patteson is freelance journalist jointly based out of Amsterdam, Netherlands and New Hampshire. She is currently studying to receive her Erasmus Mundus Master's' Degree in political communication and data journalism at the University of Amsterdam. Previously, she worked as a national politics reporter for the New York Post as well as an Associate Breaking News Editor for the Washington Examiner. Find her online at https://calliepatteson.squarespace.com/
