Is AI Making Criminals Smarter?

While AI is assisting humans in various fields, it could also be used for several types of criminal activities

Most inventions have their positive and negative aspects. For example, a gun can be used for self-defense and it has also been used by criminals. Similarly, artificial intelligence (AI) can also be a double-edged sword. In fact, many cases of criminals using AI have already been recorded. To keep you safe, let us take a look at some common areas where criminals are using AI to achieve their nefarious goals.

Deepfake scams – This is probably the most dangerous as it can dupe even the most informed people. AI can easily create deepfake audio, images and videos. These are as good as the real thing and can be used for deceiving victims. For example, deepfake videos of CEOs or loved ones can be created with fake messaging to demand money or extract confidential information. Deepfakes can be especially damaging on the smartphone screens, where detecting minor anomalies may not be possible due to the small screen size.

Password cracking – It is common knowledge that people often use passwords that are easier to remember. These often contain text and alphabets taken from their date of birth, address details, phone numbers, etc. By collecting various types of available data from social channels and other sources, AI can come up with suggestions about the possible password combinations. This makes the task of cracking passwords easier for criminals.

Automated hacking – AI can be programmed to detect various types of vulnerabilities present in a network. Such automated AI systems can scan vast amounts of code in just a few seconds. It means that the work that will take months to achieve manually can be done in just a few minutes with the help of AI. Such automated hacking tools present significant challenges for cybersecurity personnel.

Fake documents and IDs – With the help of AI, criminals can create a wide variety of fake documents and IDs. These can be used both online and offline to deceive people. AI-generated fake documents, photos and IDs can be used for various criminal activities such as drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering, etc.

Evade fraud detection – AI has been quite effective in detecting various types of frauds. AI can analyze vast data sets and identify patterns that indicate potential fraud. This can also be a double-edged sword, as criminals can use AI to understand the working of fraud detection systems. They can then make the necessary changes to their fraudulent activities and processes to avoid detection.

As is evident from above, AI can be misused by criminals in various ways. Thankfully, law enforcement agencies are actively working to identify such trends. Such cat and mouse games will continue, just as they have for hundreds of years. To ensure your safety, it is essential to always remain aware of new tricks being used by criminals to deceive you. For more detailed information and regular updates, you can visit – www.cisa.gov/secureourworld.