Deepfakes: The new threat to businesses
Cybersecurity is like a giant chess game where everyone wants to be the best player, but the rules constantly change. Cybercriminals are like detectives looking for the most discreet loophole to infiltrate systems. The latest discovery: deepfakes! Have you heard of them? If not, an update is necessary!
Deepfakes, what are they?
They are manipulated media that use Artificial Intelligence to create videos or images that appear real. In short, if you want to give your best friend the face of Brad Pitt or have fun giving your cat the voice of Morgan Freeman, using deep voices (voice reproduction) and/or deep face (face reproduction) is now possible. It feels like we’re in the middle of science fiction. Even though it may seem fun, there is still a dark side to it.
Deepfakes can be used to deceive people by creating false videos, false images that can be used for defamation, disinformation, fraud, or even causing conflicts. That’s why it’s important to know how to spot them and understand the risks they pose.
How to spot them?
Despite the fact that this technology is relatively impressive, don’t panic. As future professionals in cybersecurity, you will have some tips to spot them and win the game. Here are a few:
- Check the mouth movements: Deepfakes often have errors in lip synchronization. The mouth movements don’t match the sounds it produces.
- Look for signs of blurriness or other anomalies in the video that may indicate manipulation.
- Use image analysis tools to determine if an image or video has been altered. These tools can detect subtle differences in pixels or noise patterns that indicate the image has been tampered with.
- Use source verification techniques to confirm the authenticity of a video or image.
The best practices
It is essential to stay constantly vigilant to detect and counter threats. You will feel like you’re in a digital spy movie.
It is crucial to work as a team and involve all staff members in order to establish common security standards and identify threats before they cause any damage.
Here are a few simple measures to prevent deepfakes:
- Raise awareness among staff: Train your team to recognize deepfakes and report any suspicious content.
- Establish clear security protocols: Set up clear security procedures for handling sensitive information, including source verification and access permissions.
- Monitor your online brand: Regularly monitor your online brand to detect any attempts to spread deepfakes.
With the rise of digitization and Artificial Intelligence, the challenges in the field of computer security are becoming increasingly significant. As future professionals in cybersecurity, you will need to acquire new skills to understand the specific vulnerabilities related to emerging technologies.
So, to be a good player in this game of digital chess, you must be ready to constantly learn and adapt.
