Deepfakes pose growing threat to businesses and individuals

ISLAMABAD: A leading cybersecurity firm has issued a warning about the escalating danger of deepfakes to both businesses and individuals.

Research conducted by Kaspersky indicates the widespread availability of tools and services for creating deepfakes on darknet markets.

These services facilitate the creation of AI-generated videos for nefarious purposes such as fraud, blackmail, and data theft.

According to estimates from Kaspersky experts, the cost of producing a one-minute deepfake video can be as low as $300.

The widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies has equipped threat actors with sophisticated tools like deepfakes, which are videos and images that convincingly mimic real individuals.

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Kaspersky emphasizes the growing concern over deepfakes for both businesses and consumers.

A recent survey conducted by Kaspersky in the META region found that while 51 per cent of employees claim they can detect deepfakes, only 25 per cent were able to distinguish between real and AI-generated images in a test.

This knowledge gap exposes organizations to risks, especially as employees are frequent targets of phishing and social engineering attacks.

For example, cybercriminals could create fake videos of CEOs to authorize fraudulent transactions, posing a significant threat to corporate finances.

Moreover, deepfakes can be used to extort money or information from individuals by compromising their images or videos.

Hafeez Rehman, Technical Group Manager at Kaspersky, highlights the broader implications of deepfakes, stressing that they spread misinformation, perpetrate scams, and infringe on individuals’ privacy.

Kaspersky recommends that individuals and businesses remain vigilant against deepfake threats. Solutions like Kaspersky Threat Intelligence can help keep information security specialists informed about the latest developments.

Additionally, educating employees to recognize deepfakes and strengthening cybersecurity measures are crucial steps in mitigating this emerging threat.