An African technology university stopped a recent cyberattack using artificial intelligence (AI). The attackers attempted to distribute PrivateLoader malware, a pay-per-install malware service commonly associated with cryptomining and intellectual property (IP) theft.
The public university, which has been established for over 30 years in Africa, awards students with undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology-related subjects. The university holds vast amounts of intellectual property, including government-funded research into AI, robotics and sustainable energy solutions, which are a prime target for financially motivated cybercriminals as well as state-sponsored attackers.