AI-Powered Cyber Threats: How Bots Are Taking Over with Tim Ayling - Thales / Imperva

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6d ago 16:01

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Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Cashflow Show, host Clayton M. Coke is joined by Tim Ayling, Vice-President of Cybersecurity Solutions, EMEA at Thales UK, to unpack the 2025 Imperva Bad Bot Report, which reveals bots now account for 51% of internet traffic. Tim explains what bots are, how AI makes them more dangerous, and their impact on industries like travel and SMEs. From polymorphic bots to denial-of-service attacks, he shares how Thales counters these threats and offers practical steps for businesses to stay secure in an AI-driven cyber landscape.

Key Discussion Points:

Bot Traffic Surge: The 2025 Imperva report shows bots make up 51% of internet activity, surpassing human traffic, with 37% being malicious (up from 32% in 2023).
What Are Bots?: Bots are automated code; while one-third are beneficial (e.g., Siri, WHO’s COVID bot), malicious bots target account takeovers and denial-of-service attacks.
AI’s Role: AI simplifies bot creation (e.g., for scalping Oasis tickets) and enables polymorphic bots that regenerate to bypass defenses.
Targeted Sectors: Travel, especially airlines, faces bot-driven ticket scalping, while SMEs are vulnerable but less targeted than banks or large firms.
Nation-State Threats: Organized crime and nation-states use bots for cyberattacks, with heightened activity amid global tensions.
SME Protections: Basic solutions like CAPTCHA and two-factor authentication help, while Thales offers advanced tools like web application firewalls and API security.
Future Outlook: AI-driven bots will grow more sophisticated, challenging cybersecurity vendors to keep pace over the next 2-5 years.

Key Takeaways:

Bots, empowered by AI, are a growing cybersecurity threat, with malicious bots driving significant risks like account takeovers and website crashes.
SMEs need affordable, basic protections like CAPTCHA, while larger firms require advanced solutions to counter polymorphic bots.
Two-factor authentication is a simple, effective defense for individuals and businesses against bot-driven account attacks.
The travel industry and APIs are prime targets, requiring specialized security to protect online operations.

Notable Quotes:

“A bot is just a small bit of code that can automate anything online… about a third of bots are actually good bots.” — Tim Ayling
“AI allows bots to learn when they don’t work… they regenerate themselves to find a way past defenses.” — Tim Ayling
“It’s a bit like Skynet right now… we’re using AI to attack the AI that’s coming in from the bad guys.” — Tim Ayling

Actionable Insights for Businesses:

Implement Basic Defenses: Enable two-factor authentication and CAPTCHA on websites to block basic bot attacks, especially for SMEs.
Explore SME Solutions: Research affordable cybersecurity providers offering bot protection, such as those integrated with AWS or similar platforms.
Secure APIs: If your business relies on online applications, invest in API security to protect against bot-driven data breaches.
Stay Informed: Download the 2025 Imperva Bad Bot Report to understand bot risks and tailor your cybersecurity strategy accordingly

Resources:

Download the 2025 Imperva Bad Bot Report via imperva.com (search “2025 Bad Bot Report”).
Visit thalesgroup.com for details on Thales’ application security and bot protection solutions.
Learn about two-factor authentication at cybersecurity.gov.uk.

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