Defending Against a Digital Threat How UC Researchers Are Using AI to Bolster Cybersecurity
David Wagner, Ph.D. Professor Electrical Engineering and Computer Science UC Berkeley
By Sarah Colwell
In an era where everyday lives are increasingly intertwined with the digital world, the need for robust cybersecurity has never been more urgent. In 2023 alone, global malware attacks exceeded 6 billion, targeting businesses, governments and individuals alike. As cyber threats increase, so too is the need for robust cybersecurity. At the forefront of this work is a UCNI funded collaboration between cybersecurity experts from three UCNI campuses, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and UC Santa Barbara. Led by Professor David Wagner of Berkeley, alongside Professor Hao Chen of Davis and Professor Christopher Kruegel of Santa Barbara, their project “Cybersecurity and Privacy,” is focused on harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to stay one step ahead of these digital dangers. AI vs. Malware: A Constantly Evolving Battle One of the project’s major focuses is the fight against malware, which has become more sophisticated and evasive than ever. Traditional malware detection systems rely on identifying known threats using predefined patterns. However, attackers are constantly adapting, making small but effective changes to bypass these defenses. “We’re seeing malware authors evolve their tactics in real time, making it difficult for traditional security solutions to keep up,” Wagner explains. “Our goal is to develop AI-driven models that can adapt just as quickly and identify these emerging threats with greater accuracy.” ucnoyce.org 71
Hao Chen, Ph.D. Professor Computer Science UC Davis
Christopher Kruegel, Ph.D. Pr ofessor
Computer Science UC Santa Barbara
CYBERSECURITY AND PRIVACY
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