Barbarians at the Gate(way): Game of Pwns

In the dynamic interplay of cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a double-edged sword, wielded by both defenders and attackers. This presentation builds on the original “Barbarians at the Gate(way)” talk that I last delivered 5 years ago where I discussed the tools and methodologies of attackers. It ventures into the burgeoning domain where attackers repurpose AI’s capabilities to launch sophisticated cyberattacks, turning defensive technologies against us. We explore the enhancement of traditional hacking methods with AI, the rise of intelligent malware, and the strategic use of AI in cyber espionage, underscoring the urgency for innovative defense mechanisms. Simultaneously, we scrutinize AI’s role in reinforcing cybersecurity, spotlighting the adaptive and predictive analytics that safeguard our digital frontiers. By examining case studies and current trends, we underscore the necessity for ethical deployment and robust regulatory frameworks in the face of these evolving threats. This talk distills the complexities of AI in cybersecurity into a strategic discourse, aiming to prepare stakeholders for a future where AI’s role is as much about defending the gateway as it is about anticipating the next move in the 'Game of Pwns',

Presented at Security Fest 2024.

About Dave Lewis

Dave has 30 years of industry experience. He has extensive experience in IT security operations and management. Dave is a Global Advisory CISO for Cisco. He is the founder of the security site Liquidmatrix Security Digest & podcast as well as the host of DuoTV and the Plaintext podcast.  He is currently a member of the board of directors for BSides Las Vegas. Previously he served on the board of directors for (ISC)2 as well as being a founder of BSides Toronto conference. Dave has been a DEF CON speaker operations goon for over 10 years. Lewis also serves on the advisory board for the Black Hat Sector Security Conference and the CFP review board for 44CON.  Dave has previously written columns for Forbes, CSO Online, Huffington Post, The Daily Swig, and others. For fun, he is a curator of small mammals (his kids) plays bass guitar, grills, and is part owner of a whisky distillery as well as a soccer team.