Rise in AI technology sparks 20% increase in cyberattacks on critical infrastructure 

Irish cybersecurity firm Smarttech247 warned that AI is enabling cybercriminals to execute more sophisticated and harder-to-detect attacks, posing significant risks to essential services

The company also detected a 73% increase in hacking attempts that bypass multi-factor authentication, using ‘Adversary-in-The-Middle’ attacks

The rapid advancement of AI has fuelled a 20% jump in hacking attempts targeting critical infrastructure, such as energy grid, utility, healthcare and educational organisations over the past year. 

Irish cybersecurity firm Smarttech247 has warned that AI is enabling cybercriminals to execute more sophisticated and harder-to-detect attacks, posing significant risks to essential services worldwide. 

The firm also stressed that the increase in cyber attacks must be a wake up call for businesses of any size that have yet to understand and take steps to guard against the potential impact of an attack.

“The most high profile incident of this kind in Ireland - targeting the health service - happened almost four years ago and it’s crucial that other organisations learned from that and other experiences that are happening around the world every day," said Smarttech247 CEO, Raluca Saceanu. 

The company also detected a 73% increase in hacking attempts that bypass multi-factor authentication, using ‘Adversary-in-The-Middle’ attacks. These position the hacker between a victim and a legitimate site, for example by mimicking a log-in portal, and then use the username and password entered by the victim to gain access to all the information contained in the account.

Looking ahead to 2025, Ms Saceanu says one of the top issues facing businesses and their data security teams is how AI can amplify so-called ‘insider’ threats.

“AI’s increasing presence in the workplace is redefining the nature of insider threats. Generative AI tools, such as those used for content creation, code development, or report generation, bring productivity gains but also new risks. Employees, either intentionally or inadvertently, may misuse these tools to access or expose sensitive information.

"The improper adoption of these tools—particularly without clear data classification, access controls, and AI system oversight will leave organisations vulnerable to significant risks, including data leaks, regulatory fines, and escalated security threats”.

The company has released its findings as it launches its annual cybersecurity conference, Zero Day Con, which will take place on March 11 at the Convention Centre Dublin, in which the role of AI in the cybersecurity landscape will be among the main topics discussed.