Deepfakes are synthetic media created using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques. These technologies create highly realistic images, videos and audio that can mimic real people.
The Categories of Deepfakes
Deepfakes can be categorized into several types based on the media they manipulate.
Video Deepfakes
These involve a fake video where the face or entire body is mimicked to look like someone else. AI techniques can now map and replicate facial expressions, movements and lip syncing.
Audio Deepfakes
These involve synthetic voices that mimic the speech patterns, tone, and inflection of real individuals.
Text Deepfakes
These are AI-generated texts that mimic the writing style and tone of a specific individual. These can be used in emails, social media posts, texts and other forms of written communication.
Live Deepfakes
These involve real-time manipulation of video and audio during video or audio calls, making it appear as if the person you are seeing is somebody completely different.
Social Media/Image Deepfakes
These are when static images are manipulated and generated to resemble real individuals, often used in misleading social media posts.
How Deepfakes Pose a Threat to Security
With how sophisticated and hard to identity deepfakes are, this causes serious implications for security. A new generation of AI-generated phishing attacks through emails, texts, calls, videos and even live videos are targeting businesses and organizations.
Here are some ways that deepfakes can affect cybersecurity along with the potential damage that can be done for your business:
Impersonation & Fraud
With Deepfake technology, video or voice calls could instruct employees to share confidential information, transfer funds or change security protocols. This impersonation could lead too information leaks as well.
Social Engineering Attacks
Audio and video deepfakes can be used in phishing campaigns, making it more likely for employees to fail to notice deepfakes.
Reputation Damage & Misinformation
Deepfakes have been known to be used to create misleading or damaging fake content about a business or executives that can cause significant damage to a company’s reputation.
Undermining Trust in Communications
Communication issues could occur between businesses and other businesses or clients due to doubting authenticity of legitimate communications. This has created a need for multi-factor or two-factor authentications.
How Your Business can Combat Deepfake Technology
Training & Education
Conducting regular training sessions to ensure that all employees are educated and can identify deepfakes can help foster a safer workplace. You can also encourage employees to verify the authenticity of suspicious content. The BSC Solutions Group has created a well-drafted analysis of how you can train your employees.
Multi-factor or Two-Factor authentication
Using a 2FA or MFA for sensitive communication channels can ensure the identity of the parties involved. For everything you need to know about 2FA and MFA, you can read our blog: Your Questions Answered: Two- and Multi Factor Authentication.
Advanced Detection Tools
Exploring different deepfake detecting solutions can help to identify and mitigate the risks associated with deepfakes and your business. For a list of seven deepfake detection solutions, visit the Expert Insights website.
For more ways to prevent deepfakes and other cyberattacks from impacting your business, consider contacting a cybersecurity company. Saltech Systems provides cybersecurity, managed IT and more technology services in Ames, Iowa. You can contact us and schedule an IT consultation.
