News from the AI & ML world
DeeperML - #deepfake
|
Nicole Kobie@itpro.com
//
The FBI has issued a warning regarding a major fraud campaign where cybercriminals are using AI-generated audio deepfakes and text messages to impersonate senior U.S. government officials. This scheme, which has been active since April 2025, targets current and former federal and state officials, along with their contacts, aiming to gain access to their personal accounts. The attackers are employing tactics known as smishing (SMS phishing) and vishing (voice phishing) to establish rapport before attempting to compromise accounts, potentially leading to the theft of sensitive information or funds.
The FBI advises that if individuals receive a message claiming to be from a senior U.S. official, they should not assume it is authentic. The agency suggests verifying the communication through official channels, such as calling back using the official number of the relevant department, rather than the number provided in the suspicious message. Additionally, recipients should be wary of unusual verbal tics or word choices that could indicate a deepfake in operation. This warning comes amidst a surge in social engineering attacks leveraging AI-based voice cloning. A recent report indicated a 442% increase in the use of AI voice cloning between the first and second halves of 2024. Experts caution that the stolen credentials or information obtained through these schemes could be used to further impersonate officials, spread disinformation, or commit financial fraud, highlighting the increasing sophistication and potential damage of AI-enhanced fraud.
Share:
References :
Classification:
@cyberscoop.com
//
North Korean operatives have infiltrated hundreds of Fortune 500 companies, posing a significant and growing threat to IT infrastructure and sensitive data. Security leaders at Mandiant and Google Cloud have indicated that nearly every major company has either hired or received applications from North Korean nationals working on behalf of the regime. These individuals primarily aim to earn salaries that are then sent back to Pyongyang, contributing to the country's revenue stream. Cybersecurity experts warn that this issue is more pervasive than previously understood, with organizations often unaware of the extent of the infiltration.
Hundreds of Fortune 500 organizations have unknowingly hired these North Korean IT workers, and nearly every CISO interviewed has admitted to hiring at least one, if not several, of these individuals. Google has also detected North Korean technical workers within its talent pipeline, though the company states that none have been hired to date. The risk of North Korean nationals working for large organizations has become so prevalent that security professionals now assume it is happening unless actively detected. Security analysts continue to raise alarms and highlight the expansive ecosystem of tools, infrastructure, and specialized talent North Korea has developed to support this illicit activity. The FBI and cybersecurity experts are actively working to identify and remove these remote workers. According to Adam Meyers, Head of Country Adversary Operations at CrowdStrike, there have been over 90 incidents in the past 90 days, resulting in millions of dollars flowing to the North Korean regime through high-paying developer jobs. Microsoft is tracking thousands of personas and identities used by these North Korean IT workers, indicating a high-volume operation. Uncovering one North Korean IT worker scam often leads to the discovery of many others, as demonstrated by CrowdStrike's investigation that revealed 30 victim organizations.
Share:
References :
Classification:
|
BenchmarksBlogsResearch Tools |