Since ChatGPT entered the mainstream market in 2022, we’ve seen a boom in consumer-friendly AI platforms and a massive influx of AI-enabled cyber attacks. The efficiency AI promises isn’t limited to those who are well-intended, the technology also grants bad actors with newer, faster, more impactful ways to do their bidding. While AI offers many exciting capabilities and legitimate benefits, this powerful technology can be abused. Let’s discuss how hackers are exploiting AI to increase the complexity and frequency of their attacks, and the threat it poses for cybersecurity.
How Hackers Leverage AI to Enhance Email Phishing Tactics
Email phishing scams are among the most common types of cyber attacks. In these schemes, hackers send deceptive messages, attempting to replicate a trusted source, asking for your personal information or launching malware on your computer. SlashNet, a cybersecurity firm, reported that phishing emails have increased 1,265% since the end of 2022. Cybercriminals are leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT to make their attacks more sophisticated and convincing. While a wonky font or sloppy grammar may have been tell tale signs of a suspicious email in the past, AI enables bad actors to create more believable looking emails, more closely mimicking legitimate, trusted sources. Further, generative AI tools allow hackers to accelerate and diversify their phishing atempts, launching large-scale, personalized attacks that increase their odds at success. As a result, generative AI has amplified the effectiveness and prevalence of email phishing attacks.
How Hackers Exploit Voice Cloning Technology
One of the newest developments in cyber threats is AI-enabled voice cloning. Voice cloning technology uses AI to replicate anyone’s voice using just a small sample recording. In 2023, The Beatles were even able to release a new song with the help of AI, allowing producers to strip John Lennon’s vocals from an old demo, bringing the new song to life. While this is an exciting capability of voice cloning, the technology also has some concerning applications. Malicious actors can use voice cloning to impersonate public figures or company executives, deceiving people into providing sensitive information or performing unauthorized money transfers. AI-generated audio can also be used to create fabricated statements or false news reports, exacerbating the spread of misinformation and undermining public trust.
How Hackers Exploit Deepfake Videos
Combine audio forgery with video and you now enter the realm of deepfake videos, a sophisticated form of AI-enabled deception. While Hollywood has been augmenting video footage for decades, doing so historically required a specialized skillset and a hefty budget. Thanks to AI, “movie magic” is no longer relegated to just the silver screen. The tools and techniques needed to create synthetic video are now easily and widely available, posing new national security risks. Deepfake videos can be used for a range of malicious purposes, from misinformation and fake news to cyberbullying to identity theft. The prominence of this technology begs the question, what happens if we can no longer trust our own eyes and ears? If sound and video are no longer sources of “truth” for news events, our perception of reality becomes cloudy. While the technology isn’t yet advanced enough to, say, fake a natural disaster or a major news event, the seeds of doubt are being planted. As such, we’ve officially entered the era of AI-misinformation.
Cybersecurity to Protect Against AI Misuse
AI-based cyber threats are rapidly evolving in speed, volume, and complexity, underscoring the vital need to develop robust detection methods and legislative measures to combat its misuse. As we navigate a world in which AI can be weaponized, it is imperative to adopt a multifaceted approach towards cyber security. This involves fostering collaboration between governments, technology companies, and cyber security experts to develop strong defenses. Investing in cybersecurity education and raising awareness about the risks associated with AI exploitation are crucial steps towards building a more resilient and secure digital ecosystem. By prioritizing proactive measures and ethical considerations, we can harness the transformative power of AI while safeguarding against its misuse.