Just as AI can strengthen cyber defenses, threat actors increasingly use AI to launch more sophisticated and difficult-to-detect cyberattacks. AI enables attackers to automate tasks, process massive amounts of data, and develop highly targeted attacks at scale.
One critical application of AI for cyberattacks is spear phishing. By gathering data on individuals from social media and other sources, attackers can craft personalized emails that appear legitimate. AI techniques like natural language processing allow phishing emails to mimic the target’s writing style.
AI is also being used for voice fraud, known as vishing. Cybercriminals use AI to clone a person’s voice and then make fraudulent phone calls pretending to be that person. This technique has been used to imitate CEO voices and gain access to sensitive data.
In addition, generative AI can create authentic-looking fake media like images, videos, and audio clips. Deepfakes represent a growing cyber threat as they can spread misinformation or be used for cyber extortion.
