Microsoft offers European governments a free cyberattack protection program
Microsoft Corporation has announced the launch of a free cybersecurity program for European governments, Reuters reports.
The goal of the program is to strengthen protection against cyber threats, including increasing intelligence sharing on threats related to artificial intelligence, as well as assisting with the timely detection and blocking of attacks.
The program was introduced against the backdrop of a growing number of cyberattacks in Europe – many of them linked to state structures in China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
"If we can bring more of what we've developed in the US to Europe, it will strengthen cybersecurity protections for most European institutions. You'll see other things we're doing later this month," said Microsoft President Brad Smith.
According to him, many modern attacks use generative AI – this allows attackers to scale their operations: from attacks on critical infrastructure to the spread of disinformation.
In response, Microsoft is using AI for protection as well. The company monitors malicious use of its models and blocks access to them by known cybercriminals.
Smith emphasized that so far the company has not recorded any examples where AI threats have gone unnoticed by Microsoft's security systems.
The main task, he said, is to ensure the advanced development of AI as a tool of protection, not a weapon.
The company recalled that in recent years there have been several examples of disinformation involving AI, including fakes depicting the alleged surrender of President Zelensky in 2022, as well as a fake audio recording that influenced the elections in Slovakia in 2023.
- In early May, CERT-UA reported a change in tactics by Russian hackers attacking Ukrainian critical infrastructure. It is now common for them to prepare operations for six months.
- On June 4, cyber specialists of the Main Intelligence Directorate carried out a cyberattack on the resources of the Tupolev Design Bureau and gained access to critically important data of the strategic aviation manufacturer.
