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India is rapidly moving towards digital economy. UPI, digital banking, online government services, health records and government databases have made people's lives easier. But this rapidly growing network of digital systems has now become a big target for cyber criminals. The special thing is that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made cyber attacks faster, larger in scale and more complex than before.

At such a time, the challenge before India is not only to avoid cyber attacks, but also to keep its important digital and physical infrastructure safe in the era of AI.

Why is India becoming a big target of cyber attackers?

There has been unprecedented expansion of Internet and digital services in India in the last few years. Crores of people are making payments daily through UPI, banking services have become online and a large part of government schemes are dependent on digital databases.

The second aspect of this digital expansion is that if a system is breached, its impact is not limited to just one computer or person. Attacks on sectors like banking, telecom, healthcare, government services and industries can cause widespread damage.

The number of cyber security incidents recorded in India is expected to increase to 20.41 lakh in 2024 and 29.44 lakh in 2025. This figure shows how rapidly the cyber security challenge facing the country is increasing.

AI changed the entire way of cyber attacks

Earlier, cyber criminals had to collect information for a long time to target any person or organization. Now with the help of AI, publicly available information can be analyzed rapidly.

This is why cyber attacks can now appear more personal and credible.

AI based phishing threat

With the help of AI, such emails and messages can be created which have less language mistakes and the message seems to the real circumstances of a person or company.

This can make it difficult for employees to differentiate between genuine and fake messages.

Deepfake increases the challenge of identification

AI based deepfake technology is being able to mimic a person's voice and face. It can be used for fraudulent instructions, fraud or misappropriation of an officer's identity.

In future, relying only on password and OTP will not be enough. Independent verification of sensitive instructions may also be necessary.

AI Agents and Automation

As the capabilities of AI agents increase, the concern of cyber security experts is also increasing. Such systems can automate some cybersecurity tasks.

If this same technology falls into the wrong hands, it can help in preparing for an attack, identifying vulnerable systems and carrying out other steps more quickly.

Why is polymorphic malware a big concern?

Traditional security systems often identify threats based on recognized patterns or signatures of malware.

But if malware keeps changing its behavior or code patterns, it may become difficult for older signature-based systems to detect it.

AI has the potential to adapt to such changing cyber threats and evolve more rapidly. In such a situation, cyber security will also have to move towards behavior-based detection and real-time monitoring instead of relying only on old signatures.

How much danger is there from zero-day vulnerability?

Zero-day vulnerability is considered a very serious problem in the world of cyber security. This is a security vulnerability that can be exploited before a solution or patch is available.

AI can analyze large and complex software codes faster. This ability is helpful for security experts in quickly identifying a weakness, but can also become a potential weapon for attackers.

Therefore, companies need to avoid delays in identifying and patching security vulnerabilities.

The biggest threat to India's critical infrastructure

The threat of cyber attack is not limited to just laptop, mobile or bank account.

India's critical infrastructure includes power grids, water supplies, transportation systems, telecom networks, industrial plants and other operational technology (OT) systems.

In case of a successful attack on these systems, digital data as well as real-world services can be affected.

This is why cyber security of critical infrastructure is being considered an important part of national security.

Dependence on foreign technology can also become a risk

In the world of AI, reliance on global companies for cutting-edge chips, cloud infrastructure, and foundation models is still critical.

This dependence brings with it supply chain risks. If there is a security weakness in any software, cloud service or hardware, many systems to it can be affected.

Therefore, it will not be enough for India to just develop its own AI. Along with AI, it will also be necessary to prepare secure hardware, software and digital supply chain.

What will India have to do now?

To deal with AI-based cyber threats, India will have to pursue cyber security and AI policy together.

1. Zero-trust security will have to be adopted

No user or device on the network should be considered trustworthy just because it is already inside the system. Constant identification and verification will be necessary.

2. Security patching needs to be intensified

Delay in applying patches could open up opportunities for cyber attacks after new security vulnerabilities emerge. Therefore, automated and fast patching system will have to be developed in critical systems.

3. AI competes with AI itself

Just as attackers are using AI, security agencies and companies will also have to strengthen AI-based threat detection, adaptive detection and automated response.

4. Additional verification to prevent DeepFake

Sensitive financial or administrative instructions should not be immediately implemented after seeing the voice or video of a senior official. Important orders may require confirmation through a different means.

5. Clear rules for AI agents

Clear rules will be needed on how much freedom autonomous AI systems should be given, what tasks they can perform, and who will be held accountable in the event of any harm.

Increased responsibility for common people also

Cyber ​​security is not just the responsibility of the government or big companies. Common internet users can also become targets of many types of AI based frauds.

People should avoid clicking on unknown links, downloading suspicious apps and sharing OTP or banking information. Even if you suddenly receive a call in the voice of an acquaintance asking for money, it is important to confirm the identity through independent means.

AI is both a threat and a weapon of security

It would not be right to see AI only as a technology for cyber criminals. This technology can also strengthen cyber defense.

With the help of AI, analysis of large amounts of network data, identification of suspicious activities and early warning of potential attacks can be achieved faster.

This means that in the coming time, the battle of cyber security may also be of AI versus AI.