Deepfakes become the second biggest headache for UK companies
Deepfakes are now the second biggest headache for UK businesses regarding info security, with more than a third having a run-in with them over the last year.
According to ISMS. online’s State of Information Security reports nearly 32 per cent of UK firms have had a brush with these deepfake dramas, just trailing behind those malware infections.
Deepfakes are mostly used in business email compromise (BEC), where the baddies use some AI to mimic voices and faces, conning people into sending company cash their way. They’re nicking info, swiping login details, tarnishing reputations, or slipping past security that check your mug or voice.
The report says that 41 per cent of UK companies say partner data was the top target over the past year. That’s a big red flag about the dangers lurking with third-party vendors and suppliers. Plus, 79 per cent had security scares coming from these outsiders, up twenty-two per cent from before.
To fight back, many firms are upping their game with training and getting the word out. Nearly half are teaching their teams more. And about 38 per cent are planning to chuck up to 25 per cent more cash at making sure their supply chain and vendor links are solid as a rock next year.
Slip ups can still be expected. The study spotted that 34 per cent of workers are using their own gear for work without the right security stuff, and 30 per cent are a bit lax with the secret info. That’s like leaving the door wide open for cyber crooks with their high-tech deepfake tools.
ISMS.online boss Luke Das said it was worrying to see so many places getting stung by deepfakes and dodgy third-party risks. To keep up with these threats, companies have got to keep building strong info security foundations.
He was pleased to see businesses splashing out on tightening up their supply chains and getting their staff clued up.
Even though AI’s causing some of the trouble, there’s hope it’ll help sort things out too. A fair few of the survey lot are giving AI and machine learning a go to fight off the baddies, even if it’s early days. Just over a quarter (27per cent) have kicked off AI and ML stuff in the last year, and a hefty majority (72 per cent) reckon it’ll give their data security a boost.
