Today, AI makes it possible to create ransomware that is very difficult to detect upstream. — Photo: OpenAI's DALL-E/ETX Majelan
Of all IT threats, ransomware is undoubtedly one of the most serious, as it presents victims with a real dilemma: pay up or lose their data for good.
Ransomware is malicious software that encrypts a user's or an organization's data, making this information inaccessible on their computer until a ransom is paid. Today, hackers are exploiting the many capabilities of artificial intelligence to customise and automate their attacks, making ransomware ever more sophisticated and, above all, very difficult to detect.
AI makes it possible, for example, to create variants of existing models capable of bypassing traditional security systems.
A recent case in point illustrates this evolution perfectly. According to Check Point Research, the FunkSec ransomware group, which emerged at the end of 2024, claimed over 85 victims in December alone, mainly in the US and India, surpassing other groups specialising in this type of crime.
FunkSec is said to use AI-assisted malware development tools. By 2025, this technology could enable inexperienced actors to rapidly design formidable malware.
In the face of these increasingly difficult-to-identify threats, users need to be more vigilant than ever. This means regularly updating operating systems and favorite applications, as well as regularly backing up data on an external disk and/or in the cloud.
As far as prevention is concerned, the golden rule is never to click on a suspicious link in an email, which may redirect you to a corrupted site. As a general rule, if you receive an email from your bank, insurance company, social security or even your telephone operator – whether genuine or a phishing attempt – never click on any link it may contain.
When in doubt, it's best to log directly into your account via the dedicated website or application to verify the information in the email. Similarly, never open unsolicited attachments or those in an unfamiliar format.
Finally, for obvious security reasons, it's best to avoid using public WiFi networks. – AFP Relaxnews
