Among the myriad threats plaguing the digital realm, phishing attacks are among the most persistent and adaptive adversaries. In a recent report by Comcast Business, data from 23.5 billion cyberattacks were analyzed, spanning 500 threat types and 900 software vulnerabilities. A finding from the report illustrated that 80% - 95% of all attacks begin from a phish.
Why is that the case?
In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the last decade has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the tactics and techniques employed by cybercriminals. Although IT professionals have developed significant counters, the rise of generative AI has increased the proliferation of phishing attacks. Since the fourth quarter of 2022, there has been:
- 1,265% increase in malicious phishing emails
- 967% rise in credential phishing.
How does AI boost phishing attacks?
- Email Content Generation: Natural Language Processing (NLP) models, like GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer), can generate compelling phishing emails by mimicking the writing style of a legitimate sender or a trusted source. These emails can be personalized using information gathered through AI-powered analysis.
- Spear Phishing: AI can enable spear phishing attacks by customizing phishing emails for specific individuals or organizations. By analyzing the target's behavior, communication patterns, and interests, AI algorithms can craft highly tailored phishing messages more likely to deceive the recipient. For example, Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a sophisticated fraud scheme targeting businesses that use wire transfers as a payment method. BEC affects multinational corporations, governments, and individuals, with current global daily losses estimated at approximately $8 million.
- Email Spoofing Detection Evasion: AI can help attackers evade email security measures by generating emails that mimic legitimate sources more effectively. AI-powered tools can analyze patterns in email security filters and develop strategies to bypass them, such as using similar domain names or altering email headers.
- Social Engineering: AI can analyze social media profiles, online activities, and other publicly available information to create more convincing social engineering attacks. By understanding the target's preferences, relationships, and behaviors, AI algorithms can craft phishing messages that are more likely to trick the recipient into taking action.
- Automated Response to Victim Behavior: AI can be used to automate responses to victim behavior, such as clicking on a link or providing personal information. By analyzing responses in real time, AI algorithms can adjust the phishing attack strategy to maximize the chances of success.
How to defend against this new, evolving threat?
The most crucial step to guard against phishing attacks is to ensure that all employees are trained to be constantly aware of how to identify and react when encountering a phishing email.
Jericho Security's innovative approach to cybersecurity training offers numerous benefits that make us the preferred choice for organizations looking to strengthen their defenses, including:
- Rapid Customization and Delivery: Our generative AI technology enables us to create and deliver customized training content in less than 24 hours, helping your organization stay ahead of the curve.
- Expert-driven Training: Our team of certified cybersecurity professionals and instructional design experts develops effective, engaging content that stays current with emerging threats and best practices.
- Strong Security Culture: Investing in Jericho's training solutions fosters a vigilant and informed workforce, reducing the risk of cyberattacks and enhancing your overall security posture.
- Ongoing Support: We provide continuous guidance and assistance to ensure that your organization remains vigilant in the face of evolving cyber threats.
With AI improving the speed, sophistication, and volume of phishing attacks, organizations must employ innovative and up-to-date training to safeguard the integrity of their systems and data.
Sources: CNBC, Rehack, Security Magazine
