The AI-Hacker Tango: A Dance of Deception
When it comes to cyber threats, it’s not about the size of the AI in the fight, but the fight in the AI.
AI is seen as the new gunslinger in town when it comes to giving hackers a tactical edge. Ryan Kalember, cybersecurity strategy EVP at Proofpoint, confirms this in an interview with IT Brew. He’s heard tales of deep fake tech being used in unique ways, like emulating an Australian accent – pretty convincing, or just well-practiced mimicry? The jury’s still out on that one.
Kalember also speaks to a growing trend of threat actors shifting to video calls, with one such incident involving Iranian actors and UK professors. But live deep fake video calls? Not so fast. Kalember suggests that the technology isn’t quite there yet. Plus, creating a live deep fake would require a hefty investment in custom and expensive tech. It’s not as simple as plugging a command into AI like ChatGPT and watching the magic happen.
“I’ve heard limited examples of very specific groups… using what we presume as deepfake technology to have an Australian accent, which was interesting.“
Ryan Kalember, IT Brew
Despite AI’s potential, Kalember questions whether it’s worth the cost for hackers. When simpler, tried-and-true methods can still wreak havoc – like sending malware through an HDA file or exploiting the ubiquitous Active Directory for ransomware attacks – why bother with the shiny new tech? It seems, for now, cybersecurity teams can hold off on focusing too much on the ‘fancy stuff’ until they’ve nailed down the basics.
That isn’t to say that the threat of cybersecurity should be downplayed across office technology. It’s still critical for you to discuss security with your end users. When it comes to security, it’s far better to be proactive than to be reactive.
– Greg Walters, Head Writer
