Research: Conventional Cybersecurity Won’t Protect Your AI

In June 2025, researchers uncovered a vulnerability that exposed sensitive Microsoft 365 Copilot data without any user interaction. Unlike conventional breaches that hinge on phishing or user error, this exploit, now known as EchoLeak, bypassed human behavior entirely, silently extracting confidential information by manipulating how Copilot interacts with user data. The incident highlights a sobering reality: Today’s security models, which are designed for predictable software systems and application-layer defenses, are ill-equipped to handle the dynamic, interconnected nature of AI infrastructure.