PERUN · Protecting Sensitive Cyber Ecosystems from Upcoming Next Generation and AI-generated Malware Threats

More than ever, Europe needs cybersecurity. With the constant development of new malicious software, cyberattacks have been on the rise. Due to new attack vectors and encryption, novel attacks are undetectable to humans and simple rules and signatures. Without holistic and interdisciplinary cybersecurity solutions, the citizens’ lives, well-being, money and other assets are at risk.The PERUN project will strengthen the European cybersecurity by providing novel solutions powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning, to analyse and counter emerging cyberthreats to software, firmware and hardware in an efficient and cost-effective way. The PERUN project aims to enhance the security and resilience of digital infrastructures - national-level cybersecurity infrastructures, education and research networks, critical energy infrastructures, digital infrastructures of NGOs providing critical services and security operations centers (SOCs) across various sectors - by developing advanced cybersecurity solutions that leverage AI/ML technologies.To this end, PERUN will produce a set of innovative methods and algorithms to analyse data and detect new types of malware, as well as a collection of high TRL tools and products using new scientific approaches, all validated by representatives of the critical sectors. The results will be communicated and disseminated, not only to reach a broad range of stakeholders, but also to raise public awareness of cyberthreats.The tangible results of PERUN will be applied in five real-life scenarios pertaining to critical sectors such as nonprofits, energy, telecommunications, private SOCs and CERTs/CSIRTs. Owing to their high TRL and versatility, they will be an instant boost to Europe’s cybersecurity, whilst increasing its strategic autonomy and technological advantage.