We are exploring ways Artificial Intelligence could assist or improve our lives. At the same it can be used to cause harm as any tool.  An AI-powered cyberattack, also known as an AI-enabled or offensive AI attack, leverages AI/ML algorithms to carry out malicious activities. To asses the risks we can group the threats the following way.

Lowered Threshold

AI powered fraudsters need now less skills and less time to draw up and carry out a malicious attack. Fake websites filled with fake content are created at greater speed. They convincingly mimic legitimate sources increasing the scale and believability of scams. The same goes with social media accounts, designed to deceive people.

Improved Reconnaissance

AI-driven social engineering enhances the research, concepting, and execution of attacks that exploit human behavior. Fake chatbots effectively deceive potential victims on fake sites. They engage in seemingly harmless conversations with visitors subtly gathering information about personal details or login credentials.

Increased Sophistication 

AI considerably levels up the complexity of cyberattacks. Highly tailored texts and images make phishing, smishing more convincing. AI algorithms add to malicious applications’ capabilities to discover software vulnerabilities and evade intrusion detection. 

High-level Impersonation

Deepfake audio and video are used for impersonation and deceptive purposes. Their quality and consequently risks are constantly rising.  They can be used to trick individuals into performing actions like fraudulent wire transfers. In the same degree generated images can be used to bypass identity verification or fabricate evidence of assets. 

All these dangers are real as well as their consequences together with financial loss, identity theft, and damage to reputation. We have to be aware of them to foresee the attacks and to stand against with all possible means. Including AI powered.