How Cybercriminals Use AI and Automation

You’re not the only one who has the power of AI at your fingertips–cybercriminals do too.

Cybercriminals are using AI to carry out various cyber attacks including password cracking, phishing emails, impersonation and deepfakes. It’s important you understand how cybercriminals are using AI to their advantage so you can better protect yourself and family, as well as your accounts and data.

Continue reading to learn about AI-enabled cyber attacks and what you can do to keep yourself safe.

How AI Can Be Used in Cyberattacks

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a double-edged sword, offering significant advantages to cybercriminals. It enhances the efficiency, scale, and precision of their attacks. Here are key ways AI is weaponized:

1. Automated Phishing: AI generates highly convincing, personalized phishing emails or messages, targeting victims based on their online behavior and personal data.

2. Evasive Malware: AI enables malware to adapt in real-time, evading detection by security systems and antivirus software.

3. Deepfake Technology: Cybercriminals use AI to create deepfake audio or video to impersonate individuals, such as executives, in scams like business email compromise (BEC).

4. Password Cracking: AI analyzes patterns in password usage, making brute-force attacks faster and more effective.

5. Reconnaissance: AI automates the scanning of networks, identifying vulnerabilities with greater accuracy and speed.

   
   

Is there a difference between AI and deepfakes (and what are deepfakes)?

Deepfakes are AI-generated photos, videos, or audio recordings that show real or nonexistent people doing or saying something that they did not actually do or say. Most often, deepfakes are of real people, especially well-known politicians or celebrities.

How to Avoid Falling for an AI-Assisted Scam

While AI makes scams more convincing, the core principles of avoiding them remain the same. Here are key steps to protect yourself:

1. Be Skeptical:

   • Treat any unexpected message (phone, text, email, DM, etc.) asking for login credentials or financial data with suspicion, especially if it creates urgency.

2. Verify Directly:

   • If a message seems to come from someone you know, contact them through a trusted method to confirm its authenticity.

3. Spot Deepfake Clues:

   • Pay attention to inconsistencies in photos, videos, or audio recordings, as AI-generated content often has subtle flaws.

4. Pause and Think Critically:

   • Don’t let urgency pressure you into acting without verifying the message’s legitimacy.

5. Use AI-Powered Defenses:

   • Rely on modern tools with advanced AI detection to filter phishing attempts and suspicious activity.

Human Oversight Remains Critical

No matter how advanced AI becomes, it will always require human oversight. Cyber threats are complex, and human experts are better equipped to see and understand certain nuances of cyber crime within a larger context. Statistical anomalies do occur, which could cause AI to mistakenly identify a benign activity as a threat. A human cyber security expert could quickly look at the context surrounding this activity and recognize that it does not pose a threat.

As cybercrime syndicates embrace AI and automation, the threat landscape is becoming more dynamic and dangerous. While these technologies offer criminals the ability to execute highly scalable and adaptive attacks, organizations can counteract by adopting AI-powered defenses and fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness.

By staying proactive and informed, you can mitigate the risks posed by AI-driven cybercrime and secure your digital assets against future threats.