Spooked by AI Threats? Here’s What’s Actually Worth Worrying About

Because not all AI is here to help… 👻

AI is growing faster than a toddler on Halloween candy – and while that’s great for business, it also means the bad guys are getting smarter too. Yep, cybercriminals have access to the same AI tools you do… and they’re using them in some pretty creepy ways.

Let’s shine a flashlight on the three scariest AI tricks businesses are facing right now:

1. Deepfake Doppelgängers – When Video Calls Get Weird

Imagine hopping into a Zoom call with your boss… only it’s not actually your boss. It’s a deepfake – a super-realistic AI video copy that looks and sounds just like them.

One real-life case involved a cryptocurrency employee who joined a meeting with fake versions of their company’s leadership. The deepfakes told them to download a “Zoom extension,” which opened the door to a full-on cyberattack. Yikes.

What to watch for:

• Strange lighting or weird facial movements
• Long, awkward silences
• Your gut saying, “This feels off.”

2. AI-Powered Phishing – Your Inbox Just Got Trickier

Phishing emails used to be easy to spot – bad grammar, weird wording, and an odd sense of urgency. But now? Thanks to AI, those scammy emails are much smoother and harder to detect.

Some cyber creeps are even using AI to translate phishing scams into other languages, making it easier for them to go global.

Your best defense:

• Multifactor authentication (MFA) – like a second lock on your account
• Security training – so your team knows what “fishy” really looks like
• A healthy dose of skepticism – especially for emails yelling “URGENT!!!”

3. Fake AI Tools – Malware in Disguise

Hackers know AI is hot right now, so they’re creating fake tools that look helpful… but are secretly packed with malware.

Example: One TikTok account showed people how to install “cracked” versions of ChatGPT using a PowerShell command. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t ChatGPT, it was a sneaky malware trap.

Protect yourself by:

• Asking your IT team or MSP to review any new AI tools before downloading
• Avoiding “too good to be true” shortcuts
• Training your team not to fall for shiny (but shady) downloads

Don’t Let AI Nightmares Haunt Your Business

From deepfake Zoom calls to sneaky scam emails and fake AI apps, today’s threats are smarter and sneakier than ever. But with the right habits and protections, you can keep the monsters out.

Ready to put the ghostbusters on speed dial?
Schedule a free discovery call today and let’s make sure your business is protected from the creepy side of AI before it gets real.