Technology is evolving at a rapid pace, bringing new benefits and challenges to people everywhere. One such piece of technology is AI deepfakes. Also known as synthetic media, this type of artificial intelligence uses machine learning algorithms to generate or manipulate images, audio, or video. Many people use it as a way to make funny or harmless content, but cybercriminals use it to promote propaganda and elevate their scams.
This technology is available to everyone, meaning no one is safe from falling victim to an AI deepfake scam. This content can be hard to differentiate from real images or audio recordings, but it can be done if you know what to look for. And while you may not be able to prevent someone from using an image of you to make a deepfake, you can prepare for such an event and get ahead of the trouble before it even starts.
Types of Deepfakes
Video based AI deepfakes might appear as someone you know doing something you would never expect or as a celebrity asking for donations to their charity. Image based deepfakes work the same way and both forms of fake visual content can be extremely convincing.
Audio AI deepfakes might start with a phishing email that appears to be coming from someone you know. The cybercriminal trains the AI how to impersonate the person from company videos, social media profiles, or other audio clips. They then use the deepfake audio to trick you into sending money or sharing sensitive information. This could be done through a phone or video call, supposedly from someone you know but often using a different phone number or account.
How to Spot an AI Deepfake
You have likely seen AI deepfakes on social media impersonating celebrities or political figures making them say or do humorous things. But these prominent figures are not the only ones susceptible to this synthetic media. According to the Regula Forensics 2023 report, 37% of global businesses dealt with audio fraud and 29% dealt with video scams that year. And with AI evolving every day, it is likely the impact of deepfakes on businesses will increase.
AI deepfakes are difficult to spot but it isn’t impossible. Listed below are the common signs that a piece of content is not real:
- The video or image is slightly blurred or looks unnaturally soft
- The lighting looks unnatural due to lack of shadows or reflections that do not move at the same time as the light
- People blinking too fast or too slow in videos
- The words and sounds don’t match up with the video
- The tone of voice lacks emotion or does not match with what is being said
- Lack of background noise and awkward pauses
Dangers of AI Deepfakes
Just like any other kind of cyberattack, an AI deepfake can have serious consequences for its victims. AI deepfakes can trick people into giving scammers money, thinking they are helping a friend in need or donating to a celebrity’s charity. Visual deepfakes can be especially damaging as this scam can trick biometric passwords by manipulating images and sounds to gain access to devices. This can lead to all of your accounts being hacked and even having your identity stolen.
AI deepfakes can cause a whole other level of emotional distress for victims. By creating realistic compromising videos or images, cybercriminals can go so far as to blackmail victims or else they will release fake but humiliating content. Not only does this particular cybercrime hurt victims financially, but it also has the power to ruin their reputation.
Proactive Measures You Can Take
AI deepfakes can happen to anyone at any time, so it’s important to prepare for the worst. You can’t stop a cybercriminal from creating a fake video or audio recording of you, but you can take steps to lessen the effect one could have on you and your business.
Educate Yourself and Your Employees
It isn’t enough for you to know how to spot an AI deepfake; your entire business needs to know what signs to watch for. Educate your team on symptoms of deepfakes and basic cybersecurity measures. Also conduct simulations of deepfake scams on a regular basis so all your employees know what to do when you’re targeted by this attack.
Use Multi-factor Authentication
As mentioned earlier, AI deepfakes can be used to gain access to your devices through biometric passwords. To ensure you are the only one with access to your accounts and devices, implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all your technology. This added layer of protection will prevent cybercriminals from logging into your accounts despite having an image or voice recording good enough to trick a computer.
Create a Disaster Recovery Plan
Don’t be caught unaware if an AI deepfake scam does attack you or your business. Create a disaster recovery plan specifically for this scenario. Outline procedures for how to identify and respond to deepfakes as well as how you will communicate with employees and customers about the incident. This preparation will help minimize potential consequences or fallout.
Regularly Monitor and Audit Your Online Presence
Monitoring for potential cyberattacks is an important part of preventing them from happening to you. The same goes for AI deepfakes. Continuously check your online presence by searching your name or business’ name to stay on top of any new content. This way you will know immediately if a deepfake is circulating. In addition to monitoring, performing regular internal audits of your cybersecurity and related employee training will help ensure your business is secure.
Protect Your Business from AI Deepfakes and Other Cyberattacks!
AI deepfakes can pose a significant threat to your reputation, finances, and personal information. Being able to identify one of these scams and act quickly is crucial to keeping you and your business protected. The good news is that you don’t have to do this alone. Strategy IT offers constant cybersecurity monitoring and training so everyone at your business is secure from cyberattacks. Book a conversation today and boost your cybersecurity to defend against all the latest cybersecurity threats!
