PERSPECTIVES FROM THE CAMPUS

One of the strengths of Indiana is that we bring together a variety of perspectives from the plethora of areas that touch the field of cyber, especially through the colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education throughout our state. Hence the name, “Perspectives from the Campus”, we invite experts – immersed in the pursuit of educating their students – to offer their knowledge for finding solutions in cybersecurity that benefit all Hoosiers.

In today’s blog, David Dungan, who serves as the executive director at the Center for Security Services and Cyber Defense at Anderson University, examines the balance between using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its many potential benefits with making sure we adequately protect ourselves when it comes to our privacy.

By David Dungan

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most impactful contributions in modern technology to date. And yet, for all of the advancements it could and does represent, it is very much a work in progress.

Of course, in as much as we’re beginning to use it for a variety of purposes, including, but not limited to, our work, personal advice, translating languages, research, and simply asking random questions, AI is still very new with very little restriction and monitoring.

The U.S. government has yet to implement new nationwide AI and data privacy laws. There are some fragmented policies and a blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights is being developed. However, as all of this unfolds and, arguably, begins to take shape, it is necessary to understand the importance of protecting yourself online in an age where everything is online.

While AI can be an incredibly useful tool, it has the potential to collect all of the data you provide. Some AI engineers may not all follow the best practices or industry standards when it comes to protecting private data, AI can be programmed to remember anything you might tell it, including passwords, IP addresses, phone numbers, family names, the addresses of your home or office, even faces from the images (featuring all of us).

This all can lead to a potentially very dangerous leak, as collecting this data allows for potential cybercrimes like spear-phishing or AI plugins, which can be used to commit theft or fraud. You can always change your password in this occurrence, but you cannot take away any information that you give to AI. That being said, until it becomes more regulated and safeguarded, all of us need to be aware of the steps we need to follow to protect ourselves from cyber threats.

Here are some ways to keep your data private:

• Understand the technology and its privacy policy or policies
• Avoid entering private information (known only to you)
• Use strong passwords for sensitive data
• Utilize a strong antivirus to protect against malicious programs
• Use two-factor authentication

Understanding AI and any website or app you are trying to use is crucial to keeping yourself safe, including as to how it works or what its privacy policy is can help you better understand why it does certain things. A privacy policy is especially important: it details how the AI uses your data. Strong passwords and not revealing private information is not just great for helping to avoid trouble against hackers, as well as guard against password leaks. If the AI doesn’t have your personal information, there is nothing to find. Finally, having a strong antivirus and using two-factor authentication is the, consistently, the best way to secure and protect yourself online in the event there’s a breach.

Ultimately, AI is a tool that needs to be used with care. Any time you share personal information, you risk your safety and privacy, especially given the fact that your data isn’t always being stored and used in ways you would expect. Use it with caution and respect and you will reap many of the benefits that can come from using AI while, at the same time, avoiding some of the consequences that can come from being online (in any form). The more you understand about AI, the more control you’ll have over your privacy.