How Deepfakes and Synthetic Media Are Becoming Cybersecurity Threats
Deepfakes and synthetic media are now real cybersecurity threats, particularly in phishing and fraud. Hackers use AI-generated videos, images, and voices to impersonate people, leading to unauthorized financial transactions, data breaches, and social manipulation.
Real-life Incident of Corporate Impersonation
In March 2019, the Wall Street Journal reported an unusual case of fraud, where cyber-criminals used deepfake audio of a CEO from the parent company to initiate transactions from a UK-based Energy Company. This cybercrime conned more than US$243,000 from the victims.
Cyber-criminals called the CEO of the company pretending to be the CEO of a German-based parent company and asked for an urgent wire transfer. After the money was transferred it was forwarded to multiple accounts making it difficult to catch the attackers. This was one of the earliest known cases where synthetic media was used in a real-world fraud scenario.
Deep fake Phishing
Deep fake leverages AI to create synthetic media such as images, videos, and audio that appear to be highly realistic. With this fake audiovisual content, cyber attackers try to deceive organizations and individuals into divulging sensitive information.
Cybercriminals can use video deep fakes during Zoom calls and imitate executives to trick the employees into transferring funds or disclosing confidential information, such as credentials. A notable incident was reported in China, where a scammer used face-swapping technology to trick the victims into transferring $622,000.
More than just financial losses deep fake videos and audios of individuals contribute to reputational risks that can affect all levels of public and political life. Individual vigilance can be a crucial step in mitigating the risks associated with deep fake phishing. Here we will discuss some solutions that can help in preventing these sophisticated attacks.
Secure Communications to Avoid Deepfake Phishing:
Secure communication platforms like ProtonMail and StartMail are crucial to avoid deep fake phishing attempts.
ProtonMail:
ProtonMail a secure email provider can be a useful tool in avoiding deep fake phishing:
1. The end-to-end encryption feature by ProtonMail ensures that only the sender and intended recipient can read the messages. Therefore it prevents attackers from modifying communications or injecting deepfake audio or video into emails.
2. Digital-Signature can help users authenticate their identity. Recipients can verify the digital signatures to ensure that the email hasn't been faked or manipulated by attackers.
3. Users can share confidential information without the fear of man-in-the-middle
attacks where deepfakes could be injected.
4. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security in case if the attackers get the credentials by tricking someone still additional verification is required to access accounts.
5. ProtonMail delivers encrypted attachments, so the attackers cannot inject deepfake audio or video content into legitimate email chains.
Get ProtonMail today.
StartMail:
Another secure email provider is startMail, which offers several benefits such as:
1. PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) encryption offered by StartMail ensures that the attackers cannot reach or manipulate the email content by embedding deepfakes.
2. Startmail ensures that the attachments sent through emails are also encrypted reducing the chances of tampering during transmissions.
3. PGP digital signature is a feature offered by StartMail to verify the authenticity of the sender, therefore reducing the chances of falling victim to a deep fake impersonation.
4. StartMail allows Anonymous Emailing so the users can share encrypted information without revealing their personal or company email addresses which could be targeted by phishing attacks.
Get StartMail today.
NordVPN:
NordVPN secures your online activities and prevents deep fake manipulation in data streams. It encrypts the data traffic, masks your real IP address, and includes a Threat Protection feature. These and other features offered by NordVPN secure your online activities and make it difficult for hackers to inject deepfakes into your communication.
NordVPN’s Dark Web Monitor feature checks darkweb for your credentials, preventing identity theft. Hackers often rely on stolen credentials to generate deep fakes.
Additionally, NordVPN protects against MitM(Man-in-the-Middle) attacks by encrypting your communication so no one can replace your original live conversation with deepfake content.
AI-Based Detection:
Businesses and individuals can integrate AI-based detection tools like Sensity AI and deepware scanners to protect themselves from deepfake phishing or fraudulent video calls.
Sensity AI uses advanced machine learning models to identify deepfakes by comparing patterns, inconsistencies, and unnatural elements. Its real-time detection feature helps you to scan live media streams, and scan deep fake audiovisuals in real time.
Deepware Scanner scans video, audio, and image files for deepfake content using AI algorithms to detect alterations and manipulations in the data. It provides a comprehensive report highlighting the likelihood of deepfake manipulation in suspicious content.
These tools help detect fake video calls and verify the authenticity of any media file before it is used in decision-making or communication. By integrating these tools businesses and individuals can protect themselves from deepfake phishing and synthetic media manipulation.
Educate Yourself:
Deepfakes and synthetic media are growing cyber security threats. Staying vigilant and educating yourself can be helpful in this evolving threat landscape. Here are some online courses from reputable sites that you can join and train yourself against deepfake phishing and synthetic media manipulation.
Courses by edX:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Columbia University
This course offers insights into AI and its applications, potentially including topics on deepfake detection.
Courses by Udacity:
This course includes machine learning and AI techniques applicable to detecting deepfakes.
Courses by StationX:
This course includes machine learning techniques that could be applied to deepfake detection tasks.
Conclusion
As deepfakes and synthetic media are becoming cyber security threats implementing multi-layered defense (check our tutorial on multi-layered defense) is crucial for personal protection. Strategies like using ProtonMail, and StartMail for secure communication can help minimize the risks of deepfakes manipulations. Tools like NordVPN add an extra layer of security that protects from phishing (check the tutorial on phishing protection) and deepfakes manipulation in real time. Staying vigilant and educating yourself can reduce the risk posed by these sophisticated threats.
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