AI Agents in Action: Protecting Against Synthetic Media and Human Risk Exploits

James McQuiggan

Abstract:

The emergence of AI agents and Agentic AI is transforming offensive and defensive strategies in cybersecurity. Cybercriminals are leveraging these tools to execute sophisticated social engineering attacks, utilizing deepfakes and synthetic media to exploit human vulnerabilities and bypass traditional security measures. There is now the dual role of AI agents as both enablers of advanced cyberattacks and critical tools for organizational defense. Their capabilities, and risks drive security professionals to develop proactive strategies to harness the power of AI agents while mitigating their misuse.

Learning Objectives
– Understand the dual role of AI agents in cybersecurity.
– Detect and mitigate threats from Agentic AI.
– Develop strategies to harness AI agents for defense.

Call to Action: Strengthen your organization’s defenses by implementing proactive measures, adopting detection tools, and integrating AI agents into your cybersecurity framework.

James McQuiggan

CISO Advisor, Educator + Teller of Dad Jokes = Edutainer

James McQuiggan has over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity and is currently CISO Advisor for KnowBe4. where he specializes in Human Risk Management, AI, and strategic thought leadership. Through industry conferences, webinars, and media engagement, he translates complex security concepts into actionable insights for diverse audiences.
His extensive background includes senior cybersecurity roles at Siemens Energy and Wind Divisions, with expertise spanning cybersecurity standards, incident response, and industrial control system security. McQuiggan also serves as part-time faculty at Full Sail University, teaching Cyber Threat Intelligence.
A dedicated community leader, McQuiggan volunteers with ISC2 as Co-chair of the North American Region Advisory Council and Chair of the Southeast Chapter Regional Management Committee, following eight years as President of the ISC2 Central Florida Chapter.