How ChatGPT is changing the cybersecurity game
According to Sophos, the cybersecurity industry can use GPT-3 (chatgpt) as a co-pilot to help combat attackers.
According to the latest report, Sophos X-Ops has developed innovative projects that utilize the large language models of GPT-3 to enhance cybersecurity. The projects aim to simplify the process of identifying malicious activity in datasets from security software, accurately filter spam, and accelerate the analysis of “living off the land” binary (LOLBin) attacks.
Sophos X-Ops leverages the advanced natural language processing capabilities of GPT-3 to streamline the search for malicious activity in security datasets. With this technology, security teams can quickly analyze large amounts of data and accurately detect potential threats. Additionally, GPT-3 can help filter out spam with greater precision, reducing the incidence of false positives and false negatives.
One of the key features of these projects is the ability to speed up the analysis of LOLBin attacks. These attacks are particularly insidious because they utilize legitimate system tools, making them difficult to detect and prevent. However, with the help of GPT-3, Sophos X-Ops can more effectively identify and mitigate these types of attacks, reducing the risk of compromise and data loss.
The use of GPT-3’s large language models in these projects marks a significant step forward in the field of cybersecurity. By harnessing the power of natural language processing, Sophos X-Ops is enabling security teams to operate more efficiently and effectively, providing better protection against cyber threats.
“Since OpenAI unveiled ChatGPT back in November, the security community has largely focused on the potential risks this new technology could bring. Can the AI help wannabee attackers write malware or help cybercriminals write much more convincing phishing emails? Perhaps, but, at Sophos, we’ve long seen AI as an ally rather than an enemy for defenders, making it a cornerstone technology for Sophos, and GPT-3 is no different. The security community should be paying attention not just to the potential risks, but the potential opportunities GPT-3 brings,” said Sean Gallagher, principal threat researcher, Sophos.
ChatGPT cybersecurity potential
Sophos X-Ops, a research division of cybersecurity company Sophos, has been developing innovative projects that demonstrate the potential of GPT-3 as an assistant to cybersecurity defenders. Led by SophosAI Principal Data Scientist Younghoo Lee, the research team has focused on using a technique called “few-shot learning” to train GPT-3 models with just a few data samples, reducing the need to collect a large volume of pre-classified data.
One of the key projects that the team has been working on is a natural language query interface that enables cybersecurity defenders to sift through malicious activity in security software telemetry with basic English commands. The team tested the model against Sophos’ endpoint detection and response product, allowing defenders to filter through the telemetry without needing to understand SQL or a database’s underlying structure. This interface streamlines the process of analyzing security data and can improve response times to potential threats.
In addition to the query interface, Sophos X-Ops has also developed projects that use GPT-3 to more accurately filter spam and speed up the analysis of “living off the land” binary (LOLBin) attacks. By training GPT-3 with a small number of data samples, the team was able to develop highly effective models that can detect and mitigate these types of attacks.
The use of few-shot learning with GPT-3 represents a significant advancement in the field of cybersecurity. With this technique, researchers can more efficiently train AI models and develop innovative solutions to complex security challenges. By leveraging the natural language processing capabilities of GPT-3, Sophos X-Ops is demonstrating the potential of AI in enhancing cybersecurity and protecting against emerging threats.
Moving forward, projects like these are likely to become increasingly important in the fight against cybercrime. As cyber threats become more sophisticated and pervasive, innovative solutions like natural language query interfaces and AI-powered spam filters will be critical in protecting against data breaches and other security incidents.
GPT-3 can simplify certain labor-intensive processes
Sophos X-Ops conducted further tests using GPT-3 for cybersecurity defense and found impressive results. In one test, the researchers developed a new spam filter using ChatGPT, which was proven to be much more accurate than other machine learning models for spam filtering.
In another test, the researchers successfully created a program that simplifies the process of reverse-engineering the command lines of LOLBins. This is an extremely challenging task but is essential for understanding the behavior of LOLBins and ultimately preventing these types of attacks in the future.
“One of the growing concerns within security operation centers is the sheer amount of ‘noise’ coming in. There are just too many notifications and detections to sort through, and many companies are dealing with limited resources. We’ve proved that, with something like GPT-3, we can simplify certain labor-intensive processes and give back valuable time to defenders. We are already working on incorporating some of the prototypes above into our products, and we’ve made the results of our efforts available on our GitHub for those interested in testing GPT-3 in their own analysis environments. In the future, we believe that GPT-3 may very well become a standard co-pilot for security experts,” said Gallagher.
