Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to dominate technology news and much of the news flow in general. AI is still considered new, but it is getting more advanced every day. Technology used to create websites, videos and photos has advanced so much it is getting increasingly more difficult to tell the difference between what is real and what is fake. When used appropriately, the explosion in entertainment content and productive capacity is impressive. However, Cyber criminals are also using these advancements to create sophisticated cyber-attacks.
How are criminals using AI?
- Creating fake websites that look like legitimate companies.
- Cloning someone’s voice to pretend to be someone else.
- Creating photos and videos of real people doing something they never did.
Recent new AI software releases are making it even easier for people to generate realistic videos with realistic sounding voices. Recent high-profile hacking and AI video impersonation scandals in the news around corporate executives and government officials highlight the potentially dangerous trends in place. As barriers to technology and costs decline, and these activities proliferate, it is important to be on guard.
So, what can you do to protect yourself?
- Slow down. Oftentimes criminals will create a sense of urgency. They want you to act first and think later.
- Limit the information you share on social media. Pet’s names, vacations, and other personal information can be used to tailor a cyber-attack.
- Verify the information through a trusted source. If you get a phone call from “your grandson” saying they are in trouble and need money wired right away. Call him back at a known number or call another family member to check to see if the information you received is true.
- Review the message to make sure it sounds like the person it is coming from.
- Don’t respond to any messages that are suspicious.
- Don’t click on unsubscribe. It may look like an email that came from a legitimate company, but it can be fake and contain malware.
Use common sense. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
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Investment advisory services provided by Lantz Financial, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser.
Non-investment topics discussed are for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax or cybersecurity advice. Individuals should consult with their own legal, tax or cybersecurity expert concerning their own specific situation.
