Cyber official plans AI testing
Taiwan's National Institute of Cybersecurity plans to implement black-box cybersecurity testing using agentic AI to simulate hacker attacks beginning next year. Institute director Dennis Kung announced this initiative as part of a broader strategy to upgrade the government’s cybersecurity defenses, including automated source-code scans and real-time threat intelligence analysis.
The planned use of agentic AI for black-box penetration testing in Taiwan's annual cybersecurity exercises represents a move towards more dynamic and realistic threat simulation. By imitating hackers, these AI agents aim to uncover vulnerabilities more effectively than traditional methods, with the institute director noting AI's potential to identify weaknesses at least 10 times faster.
Beyond simulated attacks, the institute intends to collaborate with international AI firms to employ on-premises models for automated source-code scanning of critical government and infrastructure projects. This proactive approach seeks to address software vulnerabilities earlier in the development lifecycle, potentially reducing the attack surface before deployment.
The strategy also includes leveraging agentic AI and large language models to process vast amounts of global cybersecurity intelligence daily. The goal is to translate this real-time data into immediate blocking rules for perimeter security devices, enhancing defensive responses against evolving threats. This integrated approach emphasizes linking R&D with frontline defense experiences.
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