Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

Top tips is a weekly column where we highlight what’s trending in the tech world and list ways to explore these trends. This week, we’ll explore how to prevent our data from being used by AI. The internet remembers everything. The album you posted on Facebook seven years ago, the silly blog you published when you were in school, the memes you liked, the videos you viewed—everything is etched onto the internet. You may forget, but the internet remembers.

RSA Conference 2025 in San Francisco was a breath of fresh air, literally and figuratively. The city felt more vibrant and welcoming, and the conference buzzed with genuine excitement. Unlike previous years, which were dominated by hype and theoretical discussions, this year’s focus was on tangible (not yet game-changing!) AI applications in cybersecurity. AI extended throughout the conference, from the keynotes through the track sessions and into the exhibition hall.

AI adoption accelerates secret sprawl as organizations connect to multiple providers. Our investigation of a leaked xAI API key, which granted access to unreleased Grok models, reveals critical flaws in their disclosure process, highlighting necessary improvements in this domain.

At this juncture, it is no surprise that cybercriminals are leveraging the potential of generative artificial intelligence to strengthen their attacks. However, the emergence of new models specifically designed to generate threats quickly has made this task even easier for bad actors. At the end of 2024, researchers discovered a new AI chatbot created for cybercriminal purposes.

By rating your present AI Maturity level and your desired future state, you can create a focused action plan to move forward confidently and securely. AI adoption doesn’t have to be overwhelming, it just requires a clear, intentional approach.