Deepfake technology is emerging as a new cybersecurity threat. Moreover, with this advanced technology, it is difficult to predict an attack, meaning it can arise from anywhere. The beginning of deepfake is traceable to 2017 to a reddit account of the same name that posted explicit fake content using deepfake.
Over the years, deepfakes have not caused some severe issues. However, according to a report by IntSights, the possibility of using deepfake for cyberattacks is low but not zero. So, the security teams should always look out. In this article, we will discuss deepfake and how it threatens security. Let’s roll!!!
What is Deepfake Technology?
Deepfake is a combination of the terms “deep learning” and “fake,” meaning a fake version created using an image, video, or audio to make others believe it is authentic. Machine learning algorithms use a stockpile of images and sounds and stitch them together to create a deepfake.
“You,” a song by Dj Regard, Tate McRae, and Troye Sivan, is the best example of how deepfake can manipulate the authenticity of videos. Moreover, deepfake creates fake news to shift public opinion on celebrities or political leaders. In other words, cybercriminals use deepfake to harm the reputation of celebrities and public figures.
Use of Deepfake technology as Threats:
Indeed, deepfake technology has a broad scope in the film industry. However, instead of using it for the better, it is used for appalling purposes like manipulation, scams, identity theft, etc.
Political or Election Manipulation:
Fake videos of world leaders saying something offensive is not new. There have been incidents in the past where fake videos of world leaders like Donald Trump and Barak Obama circulated on social media. Thus, concerns regarding deepfake being a political threat are growing worldwide.
For example, during the 2020 elections, there were speculations that deepfake would affect the election campaign, as there were videos of Donald Trump manipulated by using deepfake in the past.
Scams and Hoaxes:
Another threat that comes with deepfake is scams and hoaxes. Cybercriminals can create false claims and scams to destabilize the market or organizations. Moreover, hoaxes created by cyber criminals using deepfake can cause sudden panic in the market, leading to significant damage to an organization or even the economy.
For instance, a cybercriminal can create a false video of a board member or CEO admitting financial fraud or constructing false claims about the company or organization. Apart from costing time and money, it can cause severe damage to the company’s reputation and brand image.
Identity Theft and Financial Fraud:
Creating new identities and stealing existing ones is an easy task with deepfakes. As you know, deepfake compiles images, videos, and audio files to create deepfakes. Attackers can use it to falsify documents or create a fake voice that allows them to create accounts or purchase products.
In some cases, cybercriminals use the identities of dead people for financial fraud. They impersonate dead people and access their pension, annuity, or insurance. Thus, there is a potential possibility that deepfake will be a cyber threat in the future.
Conclusion:
Indeed, deepfake emerges as a cybersecurity threat that can compromise a person’s identity. Deepfake technology has the potential to change the film industry. However, cybercriminals use it for nefarious purposes like spreading false rumors, financial frauds, scams, etc.
Detecting a deepfake is easy, as most of them have low quality. Moreover, there are disparities in the appearance of eye movements, blinking, facial expressions, hairline, skin color, etc. Moreover, Facebook held a competition of developing an application that can detect deepfake, and the winner of the competition was able to make an application that was able to detect deepfake with 82% accuracy.
In conclusion, deepfake will pose a greater threat in the future. Thus, taking precautions against it is necessary. Hopefully, you liked our article, give us a thumbs up and check out our other articles. See you in the next one.
