The Role of Ethical Hacking and AI in Proactive Cyber Defense: Current Approaches and Future Perspectives


Authors : Mani Gopalsamy; Khader Basha Dastageer

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 2 - February

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/39ksyxer

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/yc4n4be6

DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14916984

Abstract : Proactive cyber defense is becoming more reliant on ethical hacking and AI to help organizations foresee, identify, and lessen the impact of security risks. Ethical hackers simulate real-world cyberattacks, uncovering vulnerabilities in systems and networks, while AI enhances these efforts by providing real-time threat detection, anomaly analysis, and predictive insights. Advanced machine learning techniques analyze vast datasets, identifying subtle patterns and deviations that signify potential security breaches. This paper explores the synergistic integration of ethical hacking and AI, presenting current approaches, methodologies, and future opportunities for enhancing cyber defense strategies. By combining human expertise with AI's computational power, a multi-layered defense strategy is achieved to counteract the evolving threat landscape.

Keywords : Cyber Defense, Cybersecurity, Ethical Hacking, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Proactive Threat Detection, Vulnerability Assessment, Penetration Testing.

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Proactive cyber defense is becoming more reliant on ethical hacking and AI to help organizations foresee, identify, and lessen the impact of security risks. Ethical hackers simulate real-world cyberattacks, uncovering vulnerabilities in systems and networks, while AI enhances these efforts by providing real-time threat detection, anomaly analysis, and predictive insights. Advanced machine learning techniques analyze vast datasets, identifying subtle patterns and deviations that signify potential security breaches. This paper explores the synergistic integration of ethical hacking and AI, presenting current approaches, methodologies, and future opportunities for enhancing cyber defense strategies. By combining human expertise with AI's computational power, a multi-layered defense strategy is achieved to counteract the evolving threat landscape.

Keywords : Cyber Defense, Cybersecurity, Ethical Hacking, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Proactive Threat Detection, Vulnerability Assessment, Penetration Testing.

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