Rise of the Machines: Tackling Y2Q and Weaponised AI with Everfox Solutions
20 March 2025
Author: Ossie Terron
I have been having lots of conversations lately, and Y2Q and Weaponised AI seem to keep coming up. It usually leads to a joke around AI and the “Rise of the Machines” and a few Arnie quotes, and while the reality may not yet involve cybernetic organisms/assassins from the future, the threat of machine-driven chaos, particularly weaponised artificial intelligence (AI), is becoming very real. Coupled with the looming crisis of Y2Q (the anticipated quantum computing-driven threat), the security landscape has become increasingly perilous but very interesting at the same time. How can organisations defend critical infrastructure against threats that make even some advanced firewalls seem as vulnerable as a bicycle lock? How do we achieve high assurance that our systems are safe?
Full disclosure: We provide and sell Everfox CDS solutions. But this isn’t just a sales piece; it’s about laying out the challenge and showing how these technologies can solve it practically.
Weaponised AI and Y2Q
“Skynet IS the virus. It’s the reason everything’s falling apart!” – John Connor
I have had so many “AI for Good” conversations, convincing people AI is safe and how good it is. I think I have managed to look past “AI for Bad” or Weaponised AI, and I don’t think I’m alone.
Weaponised AI is artificial intelligence systems maliciously designed to bypass security measures, disrupt critical infrastructure, or compromise sensitive data. Cyber adversaries equipped with AI can automate attacks, rapidly adapt to defences, and exploit vulnerabilities faster than traditional security tools can react. Nice eh!
Simultaneously coupled with the concept of Y2Q, the day quantum computing can effectively crack current cryptographic algorithms, which poses a massive existential threat to cybersecurity. Quantum computing can render traditional encryption obsolete overnight, exposing sensitive data protected by today’s standards. (Think scenes reminiscent of the final episodes of Silicon Valley, where high-stakes tech chaos unfolds.)
The Limitations of Firewalls
“You only postponed it. Judgment Day is inevitable.” – Terminator – Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
If Sarah Conner were in this story, she might well be worried about conventional firewalls being cracked. These stalwarts of network security rely on predefined rules and patterns. Against advanced, AI-driven attacks or quantum computing threats, these firewalls quickly become insufficient. Their effectiveness hinges on recognition patterns and fixed logic, leaving them vulnerable to adaptive and unpredictable threats.
Moreover, compromised firewalls can inadvertently become attack vectors themselves, manipulated to allow malicious traffic into otherwise protected networks.
While we know firewall vendors will update some firewalls, and I am sure they will, we also know you can’t quantum-proof your firewall overnight. So, where does that leave us if we want to position ourselves to protect critical assets now? What options do I have right now that I can use to get assurance against these types of attacks?
Everfox CDS and Data Diodes
“The future is not set. There’s no fate but what we make for ourselves.” – John Connor – Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Everfox Cross Domain Solutions (CDS) and Data Diodes represent a quantum leap in cyber resilience. Unlike traditional firewalls, Everfox solutions enforce strict one-way data transfers or controlled, filtered two-way exchanges, including files and live traffic, ensuring absolute separation and eliminating direct exposure.
- Data Diodes: Allow data to travel only in one direction, eliminating backdoor vulnerabilities or unauthorised inbound access attempts.
- Cross Domain Solutions (CDS): Govern and inspect data transfers between different security domains, ensuring that no malicious content or unauthorized access can penetrate from untrusted to trusted networks.
Why Everfox CDS and Diodes Outperform Simple Firewalls
This approach significantly reduces exposure to the risks posed by weaponised AI and Y2Q:
- Quantum-Safe Protection: Everfox’s technology can integrate quantum-resistant cryptographic standards, making it secure against the anticipated vulnerabilities associated with quantum computing advancements.
- AI-Resistant Controls: By restricting data flow and rigorously enforcing access controls, CDS and Diodes negate the potential for automated, adaptive AI-driven intrusions.
- Absolute Segmentation: Physical and logical separation ensures that even if an external-facing network is compromised, critical internal assets remain protected and isolated.
Conclusion: Preparing for the Future Today
“The unknown future rolls toward us. I face it, for the first time, with a sense of hope.” – Sarah Connor – Terminator 2: Judgment Day
I’m not sure how “on the radar” this is for most, but given that I started my career preparing for Y2K 😊 I’m not sure if Y2Q will have the same hype. However, coupled with the advances in AI, if we’re thinking about it now, the threat is real, and I can guarantee people are working towards it!
“I’ll be back” reminds us, like “Terminator” and Arnie 😊, that threats evolve and persist. But unlike the fictional future depicted in the “Rise of the Machines”, we have tangible, practical solutions with the Everfox CDS and Data Diodes that organisations can confidently position themselves to tackle threats posed by weaponised AI and quantum computing today, securing your critical infrastructure.
The takeaway: Machines and “Bad Actors” may rise, but there are options to protect critical assets from threats like this that you can implement now.
“I’ll be back” (Sorry, Couldn’t Help myself loved writing this just for the quotes 😊 )
