Copyright Digital Trends
What Happened: So, Google’s top security – Google’s Threat Intelligence Group, or GTIG – just found something that is frankly pretty terrifying. It’s a new type of malware they’re calling PROMPTFLUX. Get this: this new virus uses the same kind of AI that powers stuff like Google Gemini to rewrite its own code while it’s attacking. It’s a shapeshifter. Its whole goal is to constantly change itself so that antivirus programs and security systems can’t recognise it. Instead of following a pre-written, fixed script like most malware, this thing can “learn” and “adapt” on the fly, creating new attack methods as it goes. Now, for the good news: Google says this thing looks like it’s still in the testing phase. The samples they found had a bunch of unfinished parts, and it hasn’t actually been seen in the wild infecting anyone. They’ve already shut down the assets and accounts tied to it. Why Is This Important: This is a massive “uh-oh” moment for the cybersecurity world. This is one of the very first, real-world examples of malware that uses AI to evolve on its own. Think about it: traditional antivirus works by recognizing the “signature” of a virus – a digital fingerprint. But if the virus can change its own fingerprint every few seconds, how do you catch it? This kind of adaptive malware could make all our old ways of detecting viruses almost useless, forcing the entire security industry to find a new strategy. Why Should I Care: So why does this matter to you and me? Because it proves the AI arms race is officially on. While the good guys are using AI to build better defenses, the bad guys are using it to build smarter, faster, and scarier attacks. Google’s worried that a “black market” for these kinds of evil AI tools will pop up, which would mean that even low-skill, amateur hackers could get their hands on super-advanced, shape-shifting malware. Recommended Videos What’s Next: It’s exactly what it sounds like: this is now a full-blown AI vs. AI war. Google is already rolling out a new security framework specifically to defend its AI systems. They’re also building “counter-AI” programs (one is literally named “Big Sleep”) designed to hunt down and patch vulnerabilities before these new AI-powered threats can use them. From here on out, it looks like digital safety will all come down to one thing: whose AI is smarter. Moinak Pal is has been working in the technology sector covering both consumer centric tech and automotive technology for the…
