By Victor Cruzat, Information Security Analyst, TraceSecurity
In the age of AI, seeing is no longer believing. Deepfakes are realistic synthetic media created using artificial intelligence, transforming how we perceive identity and trust. This technology, once used for entertainment and viral videos, has now become a dangerous weapon in the hands of cybercriminals. Hackers are now using deepfakes to impersonate audio and video in corporate and domestic settings to infiltrate remote jobs and sensitive industries.
Systems that were once thought to be the most secure are being breached and left vulnerable. According to Meredith Somers of MIT, “To make a deep fake video, a creator swaps one person’s face and replaces it with another, using a facial recognition algorithm and a deep learning computer network called a variational auto-encoder (VAE).”
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), the gold standard of digital security, was designed to verify identity using something you know (password), something you have (device), and something you are (biometrics). Meredith Somers states, “At Modulate, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company, engineers are creating 'voice skins' for use in online games and social platforms.”
Trust is the foundation of cybersecurity, and users, systems, and administrators are struggling to mitigate the risks of video and audio spoofing. This layered form of security is intended to create a preventative protocol that gives authentication and security a greater complexity with personalization.
Microsoft Support writes, “Almost every online service, from your bank to your personal email to your social media accounts, supports adding a second step of authentication.” Multi-factor authentication is capable of being compromised by anyone who possesses the proper software and persistence to generate and implement this identity hijacking technology.
From politicians and Wall Street executives to Hollywood entertainment, deepfakes are popping up everywhere and can create waves wherever they are found. Meredith Somers writes, “It could be possible to take a CFO’s voice recording and turn it into what sounds like an urgent directive to employees to share their bank information.” This type of technology poses a threat to unsuspecting citizens who are sharing sensitive data and attempting to ensure data integrity.
Sensitive data is still safeguarded by username and password, but often recovery protocol calls for biometric identification, which leaves users vulnerable to password recovery spoofing and impersonation. Although deepfake technology is very sophisticated, there are a few key aspects to be aware of when assessing biometric and identity rendering media that allow skeptical users and security administrators to remain vigilant in the fight to secure sensitive data.
AI-rendered deepfakes are nearing the point of being indistinguishable from genuine imagery. Although this technology is advanced, there are things to look for. AI-generated images can fail to add details to images that should contain identifying labels, small physical details such as hands and faces can be blurry or improperly generated, and shadows can be offset or unrealistic. Details like car alignment, sunrays, improperly laid clothing, or poorly generated pixelation are identifying factors for spotting deepfakes and AI-generated imagery.
Deepfake videos that include human likenesses often blink excessively or not at all. Facial features can seem unrealistically smooth, and rendered videos can seemingly defy gravity. AI-rendered videos and images can often contain missing labels, improperly positioned inanimate objects, inconsistent lighting continuity, and blurry faces, hands, or small objects.
Although deepfakes are often associated with deception and cyber threats, the technology behind them also has promising potential for positive innovation. In the film industry, deepfakes are used to de-age actors, create captivating visual effects, and resurrect historical figures. Deepfake technology can also create immersive simulations for medical innovation.
Mass Technology Leadership Council states, “Deepfake technology plays a vital role in filling data gaps and sparking innovative ideas in the field of novel chemistry.” Trigent software adds, deepfake technology is used for things like expediting drug development, addressing ethical concerns when monitoring patient data, and enhancing patient education. Technology that elevates healthcare providers’ ability to address, educate, and safeguard patient privacy is greatly beneficial for both patients and medical professionals.
Deepfake technology sits at a crossroads between innovation and exploitation. It unlocks powerful and creative tools for entertainment by reshaping film, education, and digital communication. Although Deepfakes also pose a threat to cybersecurity, particularly when used to bypass multi-factor authentication systems or manipulate human trust through social engineering, new technology drives evolution and innovation.
The challenge to secure sensitive data persists, yet it encourages innovation in critical industries. As deepfakes become more sophisticated, so too must our ability to detect, verify, and adjust to their capabilities. The emergence of deepfakes creates a skepticism that encourages populations to be more observant and human than ever before. Humans must combat deception with awareness and ethics, ensuring that we reap the benefits of this technology while minimizing its dangers.
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