Develop an OSINT report which provides information about the characteristics of an emerging application of technology and the threats / attacks to which it may be vulnerable. The consumers of this report have an interest in developing suitable countermeasures to prevent attacks by a broad spectrum of attackers from hobbyists to quasi-professionals and criminal entities to well organized, nation-state sponsored groups. When possible, your OSINT should explore the types and identities of known attackers who are likely to target users and usages of the technology covered by your report.
The basic question that must be answered in your OSINT report is: what are the cybersecurity implications (good or bad) of a specific emerging application of technology?
For this assignment, your role is that of a threat intelligence research intern working for a threat intelligence provider (private company). Your audience for this report will be subscribers to a cybersecurity threat intelligence reporting service provided by your employer. These subscribers are primarily senior managers and executives in businesses and government organizations.
The high-level visibility for your deliverable means that, in addition to easily accessed web sources and social media, your research must also include research-based journal articles, papers published in conference proceedings, and doctoral dissertations. Threat research and intelligence reports published by mainstream companies, e.g. Verizon, Forrester, Deloitte, etc., should also be considered for use as primary sources for your OSINT report. See step #3 under Conduct Your OSINT Research (below) for additional information about how many sources are required and what types of sources are allowed.
The following information needs, previously identified by your company’s threat researchers, must be met by the deliverable for this assignment.
(a) Identification and description (characteristics) of the technology,
(b) Potential or known uses of the technology to support or improve business operations of companies and government agencies; this includes development of products which incorporate the technology and potential or known uses of the technology to support or improve cybersecurity, i.e.
a. uses of the technology to reduce or manage risk
b. uses of the technology to increase resistance to threats/attacks
c. uses of the technology to decrease vulnerabilities in an existing technology application
(c) potential or known uses or exploitation of the technology by attackers, criminals, terrorists, etc. to accomplish their goals.
Prepared for: Subscribers of [Your Threat Intelligence Provider Name] Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence Reporting Service Prepared by: [Your Name], Threat Intelligence Research Intern Date: April 2, 2025
Executive Summary:
This Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) report examines the emerging application of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and its cybersecurity implications. GenAI, characterized by its ability to generate novel content such as text, images, audio, and code, presents both opportunities and significant threats to businesses and government organizations. While GenAI can be leveraged to enhance cybersecurity defenses, it also provides powerful new tools for attackers across the spectrum, from hobbyists to nation-state actors. This report outlines the characteristics and potential uses of GenAI, analyzes its vulnerabilities to exploitation, and identifies potential threat actors and attack vectors. Understanding these implications is crucial for developing effective countermeasures and mitigating the evolving risks associated with this transformative technology.
1. Identification and Description of Generative AI Technology:
Generative AI refers to a class of artificial intelligence models capable of learning the underlying patterns within a dataset and generating new, original data that resembles the training data. Key characteristics include:
2. Potential and Known Uses of Generative AI to Support or Improve Business Operations and Cybersecurity:
GenAI offers significant potential for enhancing business operations and bolstering cybersecurity:
(a) Uses to Support or Improve Business Operations:
(b) Potential or Known Uses to Support or Improve Cybersecurity:
(c) Uses to Reduce or Manage Risk, Increase Resistance to Threats/Attacks, and Decrease Vulnerabilities:
The cybersecurity applications listed above directly contribute to these goals by: