Microsoft provides Europe’s government for free security program

Microsoft has presented a new cyber security program for European governments today. This should be made available free of charge. The aim of the initiative is to strengthen the immune system against increasing digital threats.

Support against AI attacks

As Microsoft announced, the step takes place against the background of an increase in cyber attacks in Europe, which is often attributed to state -supported actors from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. With the new program, Microsoft wants to intensify the cooperation in the area of ​​information transfer and support authorities in particularly faster and ward off AI-based threats. “If we can bring more of what we have developed in the USA to Europe, this will improve cyber protection for European institutions,” said Microsoft President Brad Smith. Further measures by the company are still planned during the month.

According to Smith, a central problem is the growing use of generative AI by attackers. This makes it possible to carry out attacks on critical infrastructures more efficiently or to spread disinformation in a targeted manner. Nevertheless, he emphasized that AI is not only a risk, but also offer new opportunities for defense.

Steady racing

“So far we have not seen any AI inserts that could escape our ability to recognize,” explained the Microsoft manager. It is important that the development of AI in the field of defense progresses faster than their use for attack purposes. According to Microsoft, according to its own statements, it follows exactly how his AI models are used and excludes well-known cybercriminals from the use of its AI products.

A prominent example of abusive AI is a Deepfake video from 2022, which falsely showed the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj how he gives up Russian demands. A fake audio from 2023 also influenced the elections in Slovakia. According to Smith, it is currently easier to manipulate audio content than videos.