AI and Voice Deepfakes: The Growing Threat of Cybercrime

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The False Johannes Case
3. Voice Cloning Software
4. Deep Fakes and Generative Adversarial Networks
5. AI and Traditional Hacking
6. AI for Detection and Prevention
7. The Arms Race between Cybercriminals and Defenders
8. The Growing Cost of Fraud

The Growing Threat of AI in Cybercrime

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of our lives, from smart tech to robotics and gaming. However, there is one group that is using AI for rather nefarious reasons: criminals. Imagine You're working at a British company, and your CEO calls you, asking for a transfer to Germany. "Since you're an hour behind us, I need you to transfer 220,000 euros to an account in Hungary," he says. You recognize his voice and his mild German accent, so you complete the transaction. But it wasn't your CEO Johannes you were talking to; it was an AI. This is the case of the False Johannes, the first known case where AI has been used for identity fraud.

The False Johannes Case

The False Johannes case is a wake-up call for businesses and individuals alike. It shows that AI can be used to impersonate someone's voice convincingly, making it possible to commit fraud remotely. All you need to program one of these voice clones is recorded snippets of the target's voice, which can often be found online, for example, from interviews the target has done. Marie Christine Krug, a cybersecurity expert with insurance company Euler Hermes, says that the company had to pay off the insurance claim for the False Johannes case. "We Are quite certain that it must have been an AI-Based voice cloning software," she says.

Voice Cloning Software

Voice cloning software is becoming more sophisticated, making it easier for cybercriminals to use it for nefarious purposes. All they need is a few minutes of recorded speech from the target, and they can Create a convincing voice clone. This technology is not new, but it has become more accessible and affordable in recent years. Cybercriminals can use it to impersonate someone's voice and gain access to sensitive information or commit fraud.

Deep Fakes and Generative Adversarial Networks

Deep fakes are another example of how AI can be used for malicious purposes. Deep fakes use AI to recreate the faces and voices of people, making it possible to create convincing fake videos. Deep fakes are the product of not one but two AI algorithms that work together and something called a generative adversarial network (GAN). The two algorithms are called a generator and a discriminator. The generator is producing a fake video, and the discriminator is trying to distinguish between the real images and the fake video. This iterative process continues until the generator is able to fool the discriminator into thinking that the footage is real.

By watching recordings and gathering data to analyze how people move their faces, artificial intelligence can then recreate this live. They can even be used to manipulate the lips of someone else so that it looks like they're saying something different. This was invented to improve dubbing films into foreign languages, but it could also be used for identity fraud to make it possible to impersonate someone for remote verification for your bank.

AI and Traditional Hacking

AI is also making traditional hacking more convenient. Cybercriminals can use AI bots on social media to farm information and fish for account details. AI can be used to automate attacks, making it possible to launch multiple attacks simultaneously. This ability to use artificial intelligence just to increase the speed and volume of attacks has been the theme of 2020 and has pulled into 2021. The speed and volume of attacks have just gone up by orders of magnitude.

AI for Detection and Prevention

AI can also come to the rescue, detecting whether something is a deep fake or whether activity from a social media account is suspicious. AI can analyze Patterns of behavior and detect anomalies that could indicate fraudulent activity. AI can also be used to monitor networks and detect threats in real-time, making it possible to respond quickly to cyber attacks.

The Arms Race between Cybercriminals and Defenders

It's a bit of an arms race between cybercriminals and defenders. The cybercriminals have access to artificial intelligence, so do the defenders. It's just a question of trying to keep up and making sure that you're using the appropriate techniques at speed. Companies already lose millions and billions of dollars a year in fraud, but this number could keep growing.

The Growing Cost of Fraud

The growing threat of AI in cybercrime is a cause for concern. Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, and AI is making it easier for them to commit fraud. The cost of fraud is already high, and it could keep growing if businesses and individuals don't take steps to protect themselves. AI can be used for both good and bad, and it's up to us to make sure that we use it responsibly.

Highlights

• AI is being used for nefarious purposes, including identity fraud and traditional hacking.
• Voice cloning software is becoming more sophisticated, making it easier for cybercriminals to use it.
• Deep fakes use AI to create convincing fake videos, making it possible to impersonate someone convincingly.
• AI can be used for detection and prevention, making it possible to respond quickly to cyber attacks.
• The arms race between cybercriminals and defenders is ongoing, and it's up to us to make sure that we use AI responsibly.

FAQ

Q: Can AI be used to detect deep fakes? A: Yes, AI can be used to detect deep fakes by analyzing patterns of behavior and detecting anomalies that could indicate fraudulent activity.

Q: How can businesses protect themselves from AI-based fraud? A: Businesses can protect themselves from AI-based fraud by using AI for detection and prevention, monitoring networks in real-time, and training employees to recognize and report suspicious activity.

Q: What is the False Johannes case? A: The False Johannes case is the first known case where AI has been used for identity fraud. Cybercriminals used voice cloning software to impersonate someone's voice convincingly, making it possible to commit fraud remotely.

Q: Can AI be used for good as well as bad? A: Yes, AI can be used for both good and bad. It's up to us to make sure that we use it responsibly.