AI is changing the way businesses work. It's also changing the way cybercriminals operate.
The same technology helping businesses improve productivity and security is making scams more convincing, phishing emails harder to detect and sensitive data easier to expose when it's used carelessly.
While businesses are using AI to boost security and productivity, cybercriminals are using the same technology to make attacks more convincing.
AI impersonation: Sounding right isn't enough anymore
Video and audio used to help distinguish someone real from someone trying to scam you. Now, AI lets cybercriminals create realistic voice messages, phone calls and videos that make their requests seem legitimate.
Even if you can spot telltale signs of AI-generated content today, those clues are disappearing quickly. Many of the warning signs people once relied on are already outdated.
Instead of depending on employees to detect a fake, establish verification procedures for sensitive requests such as money transfers or account changes. AI may be able to imitate a person's voice or appearance, but it can't bypass strong security procedures and multi-factor authentication.
AI-generated phishing: Harder to spot than ever
Phishing messages once contained spelling mistakes, grammatical errors and awkward wording that made them easier to recognize. Typos, generic greetings and urgent language became familiar warning signs.
Today, many phishing emails are well written, personalized and difficult to distinguish from legitimate communication. AI has made these scams more polished and convincing than ever before.
Rather than focusing only on how a message looks, pay attention to what it's asking you to do. Don't trust a message simply because it gets the details right.
Shadow AI: Think before you share sensitive data
When employees use AI tools that haven't been approved by the business, they may unintentionally expose sensitive company information to platforms that haven't been properly vetted.
An AI tool can't read every file in your organization on its own. But it won't stop someone from pasting confidential financial reports, customer information or internal business plans into a prompt and asking for help.
Before employees use any AI tool for work, your business should understand how it handles data, where that information is stored and whether it meets your security and compliance requirements.
A good IT partner doesn't tell you to avoid AI. They help you use it confidently by putting the right safeguards, policies and security controls in place, so your business can embrace new technology without creating unnecessary risk.
