Chatbot Security Issues-What You Need To Know

By Oliver Smith on ALTCOIN MAGAZINE

Chatbot Security Issues-What You Need To Know

Thanks to fledgling Artificial Intelligence, we’re much more inclined to talk to technology, decreasing human interaction. From Siri to Alexa, the machines are starting to answer back. Recently, Chatbots have become so popular due to the advancement of technologies and machine learning. Chatbots help in creating a more efficient and user-friendly customer experience across multiple platforms.

However, there is one key issue — Chatbot security. So, how can businesses ensure their Chatbot isn’t chatting away to the wrong people? We’ll attempt to answer this question

What Are Chatbots?

Chatbots are, in simple terms, an extension of existing Human Interface Mediums (HIMs), such as mobile phones and the internet. They let customers interact with a service provider (e.g. a bank, online shopping catalog, or public utility) via an artificial messenger or ‘bot’.

In businesses, they typically act as a filter for customer queries, attempting to provide a satisfactory answer to inquiries where possible and directing the customer to the appropriate channel when they can’t.

Threats & Vulnerability To Data By Chatbot:

Big businesses have adopted Chatbots with open arms, incorporating them into both their automated response systems and social media platforms. However, All businesses have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of personal information, no matter how that data is transferred, stored, or collected. The bottom line is that all portals, regardless of whether they make use of AI technology or not, must ensure that data cannot be intercepted.

Techniques Developers Can Use To Protect The System:

Iris and fingerprint scans are popular and, thanks to developments in biometrics, are much more vigorous. In fact, biometric facial recognition is another good method in this regard.

Two-factor authentication:

Users are required to verify their identity through two separate channels. This is a tried and tested method. Two-factor authentication is used by many financial institutions, including banks.

User Identity Verification:

Identity verification is so helpful for the business and financial sectors. User IDs involve creating secure login credentials, including strong passwords. Verification of address, documents, handwritten note authentication. There are already many software available that can be a great help in this regard so developers must consider them.

Authentication Timeouts:

A ‘ticking clock’ for correct authentication input can prevent repeated attempts by hackers to try and guess their way into a secure account.

End-to-End encryption:

This stops anyone other than the sender and recipient from seeing any part of the message. This could be incorporated into Chatbots very soon and is without a doubt one of the most robust methods of ensuring Chatbot security. Other methods could include 2FA, behavior analytics, and even the continuing evolution of AI itself.

Chatbots-As Secure As You Make!

In reality, Chatbots are much like any other digital technology — they are only as secure as you make them. Though there’s the potential for them to be used as a backdoor by hackers, if you’re willing to invest appropriately they’re as safe and secure as any other customer-facing technology. Chatbot technology is now mature enough that we understand where it is weakest and how we can best protect against exploitation. No matter how much technology is comprehensive, multi-layer security is a must.