Episode Summary: In this episode of The Cashflow Show, host Clayton M. Coke is joined by Tim Ayling, Vice-President of Cybersecurity Solutions, EMEA at Thales UK, to unpack the 2025 Imperva Bad Bot Report, which reveals bots now account for 51% of internet traffic. Tim explains what bots are, how AI makes them more dangerous, and their impact on industries like travel and SMEs. From polymorphic bots to denial-of-service attacks, he shares how Thales counters these threats and offers practical steps for businesses to stay secure in an AI-driven cyber landscape.Key Discussion Points: <ul><li>Bot Traffic Surge: The 2025 Imperva report shows bots make up 51% of internet activity, surpassing human traffic, with 37% being malicious (up from 32% in 2023). </li><li>What Are Bots?: Bots are automated code; while one-third are beneficial (e.g., Siri, WHO’s COVID bot), malicious bots target account takeovers and denial-of-service attacks. </li><li>AI’s Role: AI simplifies bot creation (e.g., for scalping Oasis tickets) and enables polymorphic bots that regenerate to bypass defenses. </li><li>Targeted Sectors: Travel, especially airlines, faces bot-driven ticket scalping, while SMEs are vulnerable but less targeted than banks or large firms. </li><li>Nation-State Threats: Organized crime and nation-states use bots for cyberattacks, with heightened activity amid global tensions. </li><li>SME Protections: Basic solutions like CAPTCHA and two-factor authentication help, while Thales offers advanced tools like web application firewalls and API security. </li><li>Future Outlook: AI-driven bots will grow more sophisticated, challenging cybersecurity vendors to keep pace over the next 2-5 years.</li></ul>Key Takeaways: <ul><li>Bots, empowered by AI, are a growing cybersecurity threat, with malicious bots driving significant risks like account takeovers and website crashes. </li><li>SMEs need affordable, basic protections like CAPTCHA, while larger firms require advanced solutions to counter polymorphic bots. </li><li>Two-factor authentication is a simple, effective defense for individuals and businesses against bot-driven account attacks. </li><li>The travel industry and APIs are prime targets, requiring specialized security to protect online operations.</li></ul>Notable Quotes: <ul><li>“A bot is just a small bit of code that can automate anything online… about a third of bots are actually good bots.” — Tim Ayling </li><li>“AI allows bots to learn when they don’t work… they regenerate themselves to find a way past defenses.” — Tim Ayling </li><li>“It’s a bit like Skynet right now… we’re using AI to attack the AI that’s coming in from the bad guys.” — Tim Ayling</li></ul>Actionable Insights for Businesses: <ul><li>Implement Basic Defenses: Enable two-factor authentication and CAPTCHA on websites to block basic bot attacks, especially for SMEs. </li><li>Explore SME Solutions: Research affordable cybersecurity providers offering bot protection, such as those integrated with AWS or similar platforms. </li><li>Secure APIs: If your business relies on online applications, invest in API security to protect against bot-driven data breaches. </li><li>Stay Informed: Download the 2025 Imperva Bad Bot Report to understand bot risks and tailor your cybersecurity strategy accordingly</li></ul>Resources: <ul><li>Download the 2025 Imperva Bad Bot Report via <a href="https://www.imperva.com/">imperva.com</a> (search “2025 Bad Bot Report”). </li><li>Visit <a href="https://www.thalesgroup.com/">thalesgroup.com</a> for details on Thales’ application security and bot protection solutions. </li><li>Learn about two-factor authentication at <a href="https://www.cybersecurity.gov.uk/">cybersecurity.gov.uk</a>.</li></ul>The Cashflow Show can be reached here: Website: <a href="http://www.thecashflowshowpodcast.com">www.thecashflowshowpodcast.com</a> <a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/WhctKKZGTxBSHmxFBFZTZplRtGfhwDzlrpHtwxzKbdKqqnKTbWRxRrFGSpJThZKHDpCQhFQ?compose=fwmvGMBmCbZDMngDDpPjGDzpkZlZjphFLWBPkspbnNdlnfFJnLrXhCGDSnFXGmXKfjRjGRwSVSbsxrbBLrtppXDBCTShmGpzWcxCttjDdWGGvxtdNMFVmailto:thecashflow">Email: thecashflowshowpodcast@gmail.com</a>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/thecashflowshow">https://twitter.com/thecashflowshow</a> Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/thecashflowshowpodcast">https://instagram.com/thecashflowshowpodcast</a> To sponsor or advertise on The Cashflow Show Podcast, contact us at <a href="https://dashboard.transistor.fm/shows/the-cashflow-show/episodes/newmailto:thecashflowshowpodcast@gmail.com">thecashflowshowpodcast@gmail.com</a>Clayton M Coke can be found here: LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiNlc7Y0v3jAhVTT8AKHfLpBtAQFjAAegQIBhAB&amp;url=https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claytoncoke&amp;usg=AOvVaw2SpfsRoINDPTGYq3qjGngQ">https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claytoncoke</a>Website: <a href="https://www.prmsltd.co.uk">https://www.prmsltd.co.uk</a>Email: <a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/WhctKKZGTxBSHmxFBFZTZplRtGfhwDzlrpHtwxzKbdKqqnKTbWRxRrFGSpJThZKHDpCQhFQ?compose=fwmvGMBmCbZDMngDDpPjGDzpkZlZjphFLWBPkspbnNdlnfFJnLrXhCGDSnFXGmXKfjRjGRwSVSbsxrbBLrtppXDBCTShmGpzWcxCttjDdWGGvxtdNMFVmailto:info@prmslt">info@prmsltd.co.uk</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/prmsltd">https://twitter.com/prmsltd</a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prmsltd/">https://www.instagram.com/prmsltd/</a> Our theme music is called "The Mediator - aka Theme from The Cashflow Show" [PRS] and "Better Call Clayton" [PRS]  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. “What are YOU like?” &amp; “60 Second Shoot-out” are both intellectual properties of Dialogue [London] Ltd(c) Clayton M Coke/PRMS Ltd/Dialogue [London] Ltd | All Rights Reserved 

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AI-Powered Cyber Threats: How Bots Are Taking Over with Tim Ayling - Thales / Imperva