# How AI Defenses Stop Hacking

> Companies use AI to monitor and stop rogue agents from leaking data or deleting files.
- Title: How AI Defenses Stop Hacking · PCMAG | Shortify
- Summary: Companies use AI to monitor and stop rogue agents from leaking data or deleting files. AI monitoring systems can detect malicious activity before it causes…
- Keywords: ai security, apollo research, goodfire, ai monitoring, ai hacking, rogue agents, data leakage, technology, Defenses, Stop, Hacking, PCMAG
- Source: PCMAG — https://pcmag.com/news/how-to-stop-ai-hacking-some-companies-say-the-answer-is-more-ai
- Author: Jon Martindale
- Published: 2026-09-18T16:28:32+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ai, ai security, apollo research, goodfire, ai monitoring, ai hacking, rogue agents, data leakage, technology
## AI Hacking Threats Rise
Companies face growing concerns about AI systems hacking and misalignment.
## Apollo Research Watcher AI
Apollo Research uses Watcher AI to monitor coding agents for malicious activity, data leaks, and unauthorized deletions.
## Layered AI Monitoring
Watcher AI first flags suspicious behavior and escalates it to a more capable monitor before human approval.
## Goodfire's Internal Checks
Goodfire examines AI internal activations to detect nefarious activity instead of just output.
## AI Safety Focus
Goodfire's CEO highlights improvements in AI safety for cybersecurity and bioengineering after the Hugging Face attack.
## AI Monitoring Tradeoffs
Some experts argue traditional security tools might be more reliable than AI for detecting malicious AI behavior.
## Key takeaway

AI monitoring systems can detect malicious activity before it causes harm.