In recent months, AI chatbots have gained widespread popularity as we've been asking them questions, trying to test their abilities, and even enjoying their jokes. However, cybercriminals have also been using AI for more nefarious purposes. They have discovered that AI can make their phishing scams harder to detect, resulting in more successful attacks.
While our advice has always been to be cautious with emails, cybercriminals are now using chatbots to generate phishing emails that appear even more human-like and plausible. These emails may contain unique variations of the same phishing lure, lack spelling and grammatical errors, and even include entire email threads to make them seem more legitimate.
Unfortunately, security tools to detect messages written by AI are still under development. As a result, it's crucial to exercise extra caution when opening emails, particularly those you weren't expecting. Always check the sender's email address and double-check with the sender (but not by replying to the email!) if you have any doubts whatsoever.
At this point, further guidance or team training on phishing scams may be necessary to keep your organisation safe from these increasingly sophisticated attacks. Feel free to contact us for more information on this subject.
It's worth noting that the use of AI in cybercrime is not a new development. Cybercriminals have been using automated tools for a long time to launch attacks on their targets but the use of AI chatbots takes things to a whole new level.
The reason why AI chatbots are so effective is that they can create highly personalised and convincing messages at scale. They can analyse large amounts of data to craft messages that are tailored to the recipient's interests, preferences, and even behavior. This level of personalisation makes it much harder for people to spot phishing emails.
As cybercriminals continue to refine their tactics and tools, it's essential for individuals and organisations to remain vigilant. It's no longer enough to simply be cautious with emails; we need to be proactive in identifying and reporting phishing attempts.
If you require any assistance with your cyber security, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
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