Threat Intelligence: How to Make it Work in Your Organisation
Threat intelligence is often associated with large organisations and dedicated cyber security teams with large budgets, but it doesn’t have to be. One of the…
Could Your Chatbot Be Sharing More Than You Think?
Your website has evolved. Has your security kept up?
AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are appearing on more websites than ever before. Whether they are answering customer questions, helping users find information or supporting online services, these tools are becoming part of everyday digital experiences.
For many organisations, introducing AI has been a relatively straightforward project. Choose a platform, connect it to your website, upload your knowledge base and publish.
But while AI can improve customer experience, it can also introduce new security risks that traditional website testing may not identify.
AI introduces a different type of cyber risk
Unlike traditional cyber security incidents, where attackers exploit software vulnerabilities, AI systems can sometimes be manipulated simply through the way they are prompted.
If security controls haven’t been set up correctly, an attacker may be able to persuade a chatbot to:
- Reveal information it shouldn’t.
- Ignore restrictions or guardrails.
- Disclose internal documentation.
- Expose previous conversations or sensitive organisation information.
- Generate misleading advice that appears trustworthy to a user.
This isn’t because the AI platform itself has been hacked. But, it’s often the way the organisation has configured and integrated the technology.
It’s about more than the chatbot
Many AI assistants are connected to other systems, such as:
- Internal knowledge bases.
- Customer support platforms.
- Booking systems.
- Product catalogues.
- Document repositories.
If those connections aren’t carefully controlled, the chatbot may have access to information that wasn’t intended for public sharing.
Questions every organisation should ask themselves
If your organisation has introduced AI to its website, it’s a good idea to ask:
- What information can the chatbot access?
- Can users influence its response in unexpected ways?
- Has it been tested by an independent security specialist?
- Who reviews changes when new information is added?
- Would we know if someone was attempting to misuse it?
AI security should be a part of your cyber resilience
AI-powered applications should be treated like any other internet-facing service. Regular security assessments can help identify weaknesses before they are exploited and provide reassurance that appropriate controls are in place.
As more organisations adopt AI, security testing will become just as important as testing websites, portals and customer service applications.
Test to be in control
If you are thinking of adding AI to your website, or have already implemented an AI project, speak with our team of experts to make sure the correct guardrails and controls are in place.
Our team can assess both traditional web application vulnerabilities and AI-specific security risks to help you strengthen your defences before attackers find and exploit them.
Find out more about our AI and Web Application Security Assessment here.
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