Reading activity - Machine Learning and cybersecurity

The size and scale of cyber-attacks have increased in recent years as a result of a number of factors, including the increasing normalcy of cyber operations within international politics, the growing reliance of industry on digital infrastructure, and the difficulties of maintaining an adequate cybersecurity workforce. Many commentators across government, media, academia, and industry have wondered how cybersecurity professionals might be able to adapt machine learning for defensive purposes. Could machine learning allow defenders to detect and intercept attacks at much higher rates than is currently possible?

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What are some factors contributing to the increase in the size and scale of cyber-attacks mentioned in the text?

• Decreased reliance on non-digital infrastructure

• A decrease in cyber operations within international politics

• Growing reliance on digital infrastructure

• A reduction in the number of cybersecurity professionals

The size and scale of cyber-attacks have increased in recent years as a result of a number of factors, including the increasing normalcy of cyber operations within international politics, the growing reliance of industry on digital infrastructure, and the difficulties of maintaining an adequate cybersecurity workforce. Many commentators across government, media, academia, and industry have wondered how cybersecurity professionals might be able to adapt machine learning for defensive purposes. Could machine learning allow defenders to detect and intercept attacks at much higher rates than is currently possible?

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What is one of the key challenges discussed in the text related to cybersecurity?

• The increasing normalcy of cyber operations in international politics

• The decreasing reliance on digital infrastructure

• The surplus of cybersecurity professionals

• The ease of maintaining adequate cybersecurity workforce

The size and scale of cyber-attacks have increased in recent years as a result of a number of factors, including the increasing normalcy of cyber operations within international politics, the growing reliance of industry on digital infrastructure, and the difficulties of maintaining an adequate cybersecurity workforce. Many commentators across government, media, academia, and industry have wondered how cybersecurity professionals might be able to adapt machine learning for defensive purposes. Could machine learning allow defenders to detect and intercept attacks at much higher rates than is currently possible?

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What is the key solution that the text suggests for improving cybersecurity defense?

• Increasing the number of cyber-attacks.

• Developing better digital infrastructure.

• Adapting machine learning for defensive purposes.

• Reducing international cooperation in cyber operations.

Prevention refers to all the actions that security experts take to minimize the vulnerabilities of their organization. At a minimum, prevention requires that defenders make secure decisions regarding network configurations and user privileges and that they maintain an active knowledge of their networks and software dependencies, patching known vulnerabilities in a timely fashion. For software companies, prevention includes the work of evaluating one’s own products for vulnerabilities, preferably before a product is brought to market.

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What does "prevention" refer to in the context of this text?

• Taking security actions

• Evaluating products for vulnerabilities

• Minimizing vulnerabilities

• Patching known vulnerabilities

Prevention refers to all the actions that security experts take to minimize the vulnerabilities of their organization. At a minimum, prevention requires that defenders make secure decisions regarding network configurations and user privileges and that they maintain an active knowledge of their networks and software dependencies, patching known vulnerabilities in a timely fashion. For software companies, prevention includes the work of evaluating one’s own products for vulnerabilities, preferably before a product is brought to market.

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What is one of the prevention measures for software companies mentioned in the text?

• Bringing products to market quickly

• Not evaluating their products for vulnerabilities

• Patching known vulnerabilities as they arise

• Evaluating one’s own products for vulnerabilities

No amount of anticipatory work can make an organization immune from cyber attacks. When attacks do occur, detection systems are needed to quickly alert defenders so that they can respond. A comprehensive set of detection systems must monitor everything from network traffic to email attachments and employee behavior to identify anomalies and potential threats. Because attackers often evade discovery for months after breaching a network, effective detection systems can make an enormous difference to an organization’s ability to limit the impact of cyber attacks.

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What is the main idea of the text?

• Anticipatory work can prevent ALL cyber attacks.

• Detection systems are essential to respond to cyber attacks.

• Attackers rarely breach networks successfully.

• Organizations are immune to cyber attacks.

No amount of anticipatory work can make an organization immune from cyber attacks. When attacks do occur, detection systems are needed to quickly alert defenders so that they can respond. A comprehensive set of detection systems must monitor everything from network traffic to email attachments and employee behavior to identify anomalies and potential threats. Because attackers often evade discovery for months after breaching a network, effective detection systems can make an enormous difference to an organization’s ability to limit the impact of cyber attacks.

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What is the purpose of the detection systems mentioned in the text?

• To make organizations immune to cyber attacks

• To breach network security.

• To quickly alert defenders about cyber attacks.

• To evade discovery for months.