Spooked By AI Threats? Here’s What’s Actually Worth Worrying About

AI technology is evolving at breakneck speed, revolutionizing the way businesses operate. While this progress brings incredible opportunities, it also empowers cybercriminals with the same AI tools, creating new digital threats. Let's illuminate some of these hidden dangers lurking in the shadows.

Beware of Digital Doppelgängers: The Rise of Deepfake Scams in Video Calls

AI-powered deepfakes have reached an alarming level of realism, and cyber attackers are exploiting them to manipulate employees through social engineering.

For example, a security firm recently uncovered a case where an employee at a cryptocurrency foundation was targeted in a Zoom meeting by several deepfake renditions of senior executives. These imposters urged the employee to install a Zoom extension to enable microphone access, ultimately opening the door to a North Korean cyberattack.

This trend is undermining traditional verification methods in businesses. Stay vigilant by spotting signs like irregular facial features, unusually long pauses, or inconsistent lighting during calls.

Phishing Emails Evolved: How AI Makes Inbox Threats Harder to Detect

Phishing emails have long been a security challenge, but AI-generated messages now eliminate typical giveaways like spelling mistakes and awkward grammar.

Cybercriminals are embedding AI capabilities into their phishing toolkits, automatically translating deceptive emails and landing pages into various languages to broaden their attack reach.

Despite this, effective defenses remain similar: implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) significantly complicates unauthorized access, as attackers rarely possess your secondary devices such as your smartphone. Regular security training empowers your team to recognize subtle danger signs, including urgent tone in suspicious messages.

Fake AI Tools: Malware Disguised as Legitimate Software

Exploiting the AI craze, attackers frequently disguise malware as popular AI applications or utilities. Tailored to current trends or seasonal events like Black Friday, these fake "AI video generators" and counterfeit tools contain just enough authentic features to deceive users, while secretly distributing harmful software.

Recently, a TikTok channel promoted instructions for installing "cracked software" to bypass licensing on apps such as ChatGPT using PowerShell commands. However, this was a covert malware dissemination operation, later unraveled by security experts.

Protecting your business means incorporating security awareness training and consulting your Managed Service Provider (MSP) to evaluate any AI tools before adoption.

How to Safeguard Your Business from AI-driven Cyber Threats

Click here or give us a call at 714-579-3026 to schedule your free 15-Minute Discovery Call today and let's talk through how to protect your team from the scary side of AI ... before it becomes a real problem.