DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇱 Israel /Technology

AI-powered cyberattacks 'already happening' against critical infrastructure, Check Point chief says

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Interview Named sources Ongoing story
  • Check Point Chief of Staff Gil Messing said artificial intelligence-powered cyberattacks against critical infrastructure are already occurring rather than remaining a future threat.
  • He said advanced models have reduced the gap between major powers and smaller actors by allowing people with limited expertise to create sophisticated attacks.
  • Messing called for international cooperation and stronger software-update practices to address attacks that can disrupt services, steal data or shut down critical systems.

Artificial intelligence-powered attacks on critical infrastructure are no longer a warning about the distant future, according to Check Point Chief of Staff Gil Messing. “It is becoming more dangerous, and it is not that this will happen soon; it is already happening,” he said in an interview with 103FM.

Messing was discussing a joint warning from more than 100 major technology companies about hostile actors using AI against critical infrastructure. He said the release of increasingly powerful models from OpenAI, Anthropic and other companies had erased much of the advantage once held by major powers.

It is becoming more dangerous, and it is not that this will happen soon; it is already happening.

— Gil MessingThe Check Point executive said AI-powered attacks on critical infrastructure are already taking place.

“The models allow almost anyone with a little knowledge to create attacks and vulnerabilities that have never been seen before,” Messing said. In his view, the technology has made cyberattacks more sophisticated and more frequent by putting a tool “like a weapon” into the hands of a far wider group of people.

The models allow almost anyone with a little knowledge to create attacks and vulnerabilities that have never been seen before.

— Gil MessingHe described how advanced AI models have lowered the barrier to sophisticated cyberattacks.

Messing said cyberattacks typically exploit weaknesses in software. The effects can include service disruptions, data theft, system crashes, encrypted information and the shutdown of critical systems. He also warned that some models can carry out attacks without continuous human control, creating situations that can move beyond an operator’s control.

“Everyone needs to cooperate because this is not the world we knew before,” he said. Messing identified regular software updates as the first of three main areas requiring action, although the provided account ends before detailing the other two.

Everyone needs to cooperate because this is not the world we knew before.

— Gil MessingHe called for cooperation to respond to the emerging threat.
About this summary

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog