Melinda Mattox warns AI is making cyberattacks faster and harder to spot

Melinda Mattox, director of security operations at the University of St. Thomas, told FOX 9 that AI is increasing both the volume and speed of cyberattacks. She said AI-assisted attacks have risen by 89% this year, while activity that might take a hacker 30 minutes could take agentic AI 30 seconds once attackers gain initial network access.

Mattox said basic security habits remain important but are no longer enough on their own. She recommended securing digital identities with multifactor authentication, passkeys and password managers, while also keeping track of where personal data is stored.

AI is also making scams more convincing across email, text messages and phone calls. Mattox advised people to question unusual communications, including calls that may come from AI bots, and to watch for early warning signs before obvious harms such as drained bank accounts or ransom demands occur.