Companies are seeing a steep rise in multimedia problems fueled in part by an uptick in AI computer violence, .
94 % of surveyed institutions reported an increase in multichannel problems over the last year, referring to problems in which threat stars utilize multiple channels such as email and SMS.
This is in part because there are now so many programs for intruders to destination, with cyber criminals able to exploit social media accounts and messaging apps to mimic legitimate contacts.
also plays a part, with the report referring to one event in which was used to create a algorithmic words copy in combination with communication via WhatsApp and Teams channels.
” Envision a vice chairman receiving a visit from the’ CEO ‘ asking them to do an immediate action, followed by a confirming information on another channel like or . The phone creates intensity, and the follow-up adds trust. Who doesn’t do when advised”? Sascha Giese, software apostle at SolarWinds, told ITPro.
” A advanced multi-channel attack could be the best violence, combining technical expertise, social engineering, a narrative, and an AI in a way that some companies are equipped to defend against”, Giese added.
Respondents expect AI cyber problems to increase in speed across the board, the report found, with 91 % expecting the danger and power of AI-based cyber attacks to increase over the next three years.
Though 96 % of respondents recognized the importance of detecting AI-based attacks, only 26 % rated their ability to do this as “high”.
Why are multichannel attacks so dangerous?
Businesses must be wary of this upward trend in multichannel attacks as they can be particularly effective ways for attackers to leverage vulnerabilities.
They can be particularly dangerous as they combine multiple prompts directed at a victim using more than one media type to create a sense of credibility, James McGodrick, head of security services at Systal, said.
” Examples of this could be an apparently legitimate voicemail from a CFO to a member of the finance team, immediately followed by a very convincing payment link sent via E-Mail which aligns with the content of the voicemail”, McGodrick told ITPro.
As much cybersecurity training highlights the importance of double checking with the person who appears to have sent a communication, McGodrick said, multichannel attacks work by attempting to satisfy the victim that further corroboration is not needed.
” For this reason, multi-channel attacks can be particularly dangerous for organizations, even those who have already got user awareness training in place”, McGodrick said.