How Cyber Attackers Are Exploiting AI

With the rapid advancement of technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a prominent force in our lives. It is revolutionising various industries, from healthcare to transportation. At Solutions 4 IT we even use AI on our EDP (Endpoint Protection) system, to provide 24/7 monitoring to customer devices in case of malware of a cyber-attack.

However, as AI continues to evolve, it is not only being used for positive purposes but also for malicious intents, such as phishing.

Traditionally, phishing attacks involved sending deceptive emails or messages to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information such as passwords or financial details.

But with the emergence of AI-powered tools and techniques, these attacks have become more sophisticated and harder to detect.

 

How Phishing Is Advancing With AI

 

Scammers are leveraging AI to create highly convincing and personalised phishing emails. By analysing a target’s online presence, including social media profiles and previous interactions, AI algorithms such as ChatGPT can generate emails that appear legitimate and tailored to the recipient.

These AI-powered phishing emails often incorporate personal details such as the recipient’s name, recent purchases, or even upcoming events, making them seem more convincing. Additionally, AI allows scammers to mimic the writing style of the sender, further increasing the likelihood of deception.

 

AI-powered Chatbots And Their Role In Phishing Scams

 

AI-powered chatbots have also become a significant tool in phishing scams. These chatbots can engage with potential victims through messaging platforms, websites, or even phone calls, mimicking human-like conversations.

By analysing previous conversations and learning from them, AI-powered chatbots can adapt their responses to appear more realistic and persuasive.

Furthermore, these chatbots can exploit social engineering techniques to manipulate individuals into divulging sensitive information.

They may create a sense of urgency, offer enticing rewards or discounts, or pretend to be a trusted source such as a bank representative or customer service agent.

Not to mention, this completely removes the difficulty of language barriers from the equation. One common sign of phishing that we used to look for is spelling or grammar mistakes in fraudulent emails/websites. However, with AI, this tell is hidden.

 

 

How Can We Combat This

 

To combat the increasing sophistication of AI-powered phishing scams, organisations and individuals need to employ a multi-layered approach.

Firstly, education and awareness are key. By educating employees and individuals about the tactics used by scammers, such as carefully examining email addresses or verifying requests through other channels, we can reduce the likelihood of falling victim to these scams.

Secondly, enhancing email security measures is crucial. Implementing advanced spam filters and email authentication protocols like DMARC can help identify and block suspicious emails before they reach recipients’ inboxes.

 

1. Enable multi-factor authentication for added security

 

Enabling multi-factor authentication is another essential step in combating AI-powered phishing scams. By requiring additional verification steps, such as a unique code sent to a trusted device or biometric authentication, the chances of unauthorised access are greatly reduced.

Additionally, organisations should invest in AI-based security solutions. These solutions can detect and analyse patterns of behaviour in real-time, flagging suspicious activities and potential phishing attempts. By leveraging AI technology against itself, we can stay one step ahead of cybercriminals.

 

2. Regularly update software and use strong, unique passwords

 

To effectively combat the ever-evolving threat of AI-powered phishing scams, it is essential to regularly update software and utilize strong, unique passwords. By keeping our systems and applications up-to-date with the latest security patches and fixes, we can minimise vulnerabilities that scammers may exploit.

Using strong and unique passwords for all our online accounts adds an extra layer of protection. Avoid using common phrases or easily guessable information, such as birthdays or names of family members. Instead, opt for a combination of letters (both uppercase and lowercase), numbers, and special characters.
 

3. Other tells

 
While in the past, grammar/spelling mistakes would be a good indication of phishing, there are other signs that aren’t going to stop being relevant any time soon.

If someone is trying to impersonate as a reputable company, take a moment to think of common business practice. For a start, if you were contacted by a company you are a customer under, you’d expect to see your name come up rather than “sir/madam/customer” in the email, right?

The cruel method of all of these scams is to scare the victim into action by threatening them with a certain trigger like, “owing money” or “having their account compromised”.

If you are on the fence whether this is true, then the best thing to do is to simply call whichever company the email claims it is, and ask them. If they confirm everything is fine, such as your bank branch, then you know that it’s just a phishing email. Plus, if it was that urgent, you’d most likely be receiving a call rather than email.

Malicious users and scammers rely on making us afraid to lower our guard and rationality. It’s important to stay safe.