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Author: ARRC Technology

Real-Life Examples of How AI Was Used to Breach Businesses

Posted on by ARRC Technology

There has been a lot of talk recently, about how hackers are leveraging AI to breach businesses. Hackers can sneak their way in more easily with these new algorithms used in social engineering. 

Unfortunately, these are no longer just theoretical discussions. We have reached a point where AI-powered data breaches are actually a reality. In fact, they are among the most rapidly growing threats to businesses everywhere. Today, we will talk about some real-life examples of recent data breaches made possible through AI. 

TaskRabbit Data Breach 

IKEA’s well-known online marketplace TaskRabbit was one of the targets of hackers using AI to breach businesses in April 2018. TaskRabbit’s primary goal is to match freelancers (Taskers) in housekeeping, moving, delivery, and similar industries with local demand (Clients). It operates on a large scale, and when the breach happened, the site had millions of registered users. 

The company has found out that over 3.75 million records of Taskers and Clients were affected in the breach. Personal information and financial details were stolen. The website and the mobile app had to be shut down and taken offline for a while as the company dealt with the damage. According to investigations, the distributed denial-of-service, or DDoS, attack used an AI-enabled botnet. 

Yum! Brands Data Breach

Yum! Brands, was the victim of hackers using AI to breach businesses in January 2023. Initially, management thought that corporate data was the sole target of the attack, but it turned out that employee information was also compromised. An unidentified malicious actor launched a ransomware attack that led to the breach.

Many ransomware attacks that took place after the creation of AI tools leveraged AI technology to automate decisions on which data to take, as some brought more damage potential to the target business. It proved to be a good tactic, as Yum! was forced to close nearly 300 of their UK branches for several weeks. 

AI used to Breach Businesses like T-Mobile

This wireless network operator is no stranger to data breaches, having survived nine separate attacks in the last five years. Early this year, T-Mobile revealed that 37 million of its customer’s records were stolen in a breach that began in November 2022. 

According to the company’s AI analysts, the threat actor used an application programming interface or API equipped with AI capabilities and could secure unauthorized access. This ultimately led to the theft and exposure of sensitive client information, including full names, contact numbers, and PINs. 

AI used to Breach Businesses like Activision

In December 2023, hackers launched a targeted phishing campaign against Activision, the company that created the Call of Duty games. Hackers used AI to breach businesses like Activision and created the SMS messages used for the phishing attacks, which ultimately proved successful as one HR staff member succumbed to the bait. 

But we all know that one click is all it takes because, immediately, the hacker gains access to the complete employee database. This included email addresses, phone numbers, work locations, salaries, and more. However, they were able to find a solution since Activision could find the breach early.

Don’t Be the Next Victim of Hackers using AI to Breach Businesses!

Because of AI tools, data breaches have become much more far-reaching today in terms of business damage as compared to years past. The total cost is also much higher, with an average expense of $4.45 million for each breach. Although hiring an AI cybersecurity expert and upgrading your system would cost money, it wouldn’t come close to the expense of the harm a cyberattack would cause.

The examples above are all real, and as you can see, they have happened to large companies. All these companies thought they had reliable security systems, or so they thought. The point is that any of us, including you, could experience a data breach, especially one that uses AI. To learn more about how hackers use AI technology, download our FREE eBook, “The Growing Role of AI in Security – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.”

Would you take the risk and just cross your fingers that you don’t become the next victim, or would you take proactive measures right now to boost your defenses and maximize your company’s protection? If you choose the latter, we are here to provide all the services you need. Just contact us so we can make sure your system is safe from AI attacks.

7 Ways AI Can Be Used by Hackers to Steal Personal Information

Posted on by ARRC Technology

Data breaches are now more rampant than ever to steal personal information. Each month sees at least 150 incidents that affect businesses, and these only account for the reported cases. One reason hackers can execute data breaches so easily is because of modern technology, like artificial intelligence. While AI can help society at large, it has also been instrumental in illicit activities like stealing personal information. Here are 7 ways by which hackers are using AI to infiltrate businesses.

Personalized Phishing To Steal Personal Information

Phishing is one of the most prevalent methods of hacking used today. This is because phishing relies on the human element, which is the weakest link of security in any organization, making for a high success rate. But with AI, phishing has become a huge threat to businesses and individuals. Messages are now personalized, so employees are more likely to believe they are real. Once the victim takes the phishing bait, the hackers can steal all kinds of information from the system. 

Spreading Deepfakes to Steal Personal Information

Deepfakes are AI-generated videos or sound clips that look very real. There are so many ways that hackers can use these kinds of videos to steal information. They can directly target employees by sending a deepfake video, supposedly from a supervisor. The “supervisor” might ask for some information, and the employee obliges because it’s from their boss. Hackers can also use deepfake material to spread negative propaganda about a company. In the impending chaos, they can take advantage of compromised security by diving in and successfully executing a data breach. 

Cracking CAPTCHA

Until recently, CAPTCHA was a reliable means of differentiating a real person from a bot. But AI has now improved so much that it can accurately emulate human images and behavior. In a typical CAPTCHA image, someone could ask you to click on all the boxes with a bridge. The old system presumes that only a human will do this correctly. But AI algorithms can now quickly analyze the image and respond just like a human would. Once the hacker gets past the CAPTCHA security gates using this strategy, they can steal whatever sensitive personal information they want. 

Using Brute Force

Traditionally, the most common way to crack passwords was by trying all combinations until you got the right one. This hack is known as brute-forcing. Hackers still use the same method today. However, with the help of AI tools, specifically those that analyze a user’s online behavior, the process requires considerably less time and computing power.

Listening to Keystrokes

Several AI tools can “listen” to keystrokes. Instead of trying all the different combinations like in the brute force method, AI can listen to the keystrokes and identify a user’s password with up to 95% accuracy. There will be considerable training involved, as with most AI algorithms, but once the machine learning process is complete, hackers can effectively use this tool to easily crack passwords.

Audio Fingerprinting to Steal Personal Information

Voice biometrics is one of the most common security measures used today. It is highly secure since voiceprints are unique, just like fingerprints. But thanks to AI, duplicating voice prints is now easy. Many call the process audio fingerprinting. All that’s required is a few minutes of a sample of the target’s voice, and AI will quickly be able to generate audio clips in that exact voice.

AI-Aided Social Engineering

Social engineering refers to the deception or manipulation of people to entice them into revealing confidential information or granting access to restricted areas. It is not a hacking method per se but more of a practice of misleading people by taking advantage of trust or other vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals have been practicing social engineering for a long time, but with AI tools and algorithms, the technique has become much more efficient and has led to successful hacking.


Final Thoughts on AI Being Used to Steal Personal Information

This list is just the tip of the iceberg for AI to steal personal information. There are many other ways that hackers can use AI to steal information. For sure, they will also discover dozens of newer and more dangerous methods shortly. But businesses don’t have to sit back and take it all lightly. There are solutions to combat AI hacking, and many of these solutions involve AI as well. 

Our company is dedicated to using technology for the improvement of businesses, and this includes the area of security. If you want to fortify your defenses against AI-powered attempts to steal your information, we can hook you up with the right service provider that can take care of your needs. You can also learn a lot from our on-demand webinar and cybersecurity e-book, so download them today. Let us know your interest so we can send you more information.

How Is AI Used Against Your Employees

Posted on by ARRC Technology

Artificial intelligence has evolved dramatically, and the improvements are evident. In one of its first applications, AI was used to develop a checkers program. It was a monumental achievement at the time but seems so simplistic compared to today’s AI applications. AI is an everyday tool behind many ordinary things like virtual assistants, autonomous vehicles, and chatbots. Because of this AI is now used against your employees if they are not aware. 

The Dark Side of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI has become so advanced that it is often difficult to fathom whether something is real or AI-generated. When you attempt to distinguish between real photos taken by your friend and those produced by an AI photo app, it can be quite amusing. However, this could turn dangerous, especially when hackers use it to target employees. The goal is to infiltrate a company’s system or steal confidential data. And what’s alarming is that there are several ways that this can be done. 

Using AI Chatbots for Phishing Campaigns Against Employees

There used to be a time when phishing emails were easily distinguishable because of their glaring grammatical errors or misplaced punctuation marks. But with AI-powered chatbots, hackers can now generate almost flawlessly written phishing emails. Not only that, but these messages can also be personalized, making it more likely for the recipient to fall victim, as they won’t suspect that the email is fake.

CEO Fraud and Executive Phishing

This is not an entirely new method of social engineering. However, it has had a much higher success rate since generative AI tools emerged, making the phishing campaign more effective. In this type of phishing attack, hackers send out emails that look like they came from the CEO or some other high-ranking official. Most employees will not question this type of authority, especially since the message looks authentic, complete with logos and signatures. 

Using AI Deepfake to Create Deceptive Videos Against Employees

Many people are aware by now that emails can easily be faked. With the prevalence of phishing scams and similar cyberattacks, we now tend to be more vigilant when reading through our inboxes. But videos are a different thing. As the saying goes, to see is to believe. If there is a video, it must be real. There is no need to verify because it is in front of your eyes, so they would willingly volunteer sensitive information, grant unauthorized access, or whatnot. However many employees don’t realize that AI is so advanced that even these videos can now be fabricated using Deepfake technology.

What You Can Do To Keep Your Employees and Your Business Safe

Hackers are taking advantage of AI technology to execute their attacks. We can only expect these strategies to become even more aggressive as AI continues to advance. But at the same time, there are steps you can take to increase safety for your business and your employees.

AI Cybersecurity Training for Employees 

Awareness is key to mitigating the risks brought by AI-based attacks. With regular cybersecurity training, you can maintain employee awareness, help them understand how AI attacks work, and equip them with the knowledge to pinpoint red flags in suspicious emails. 

Limit Access to Sensitive Information

Employees should always be on a need-to-know basis with the company’s sensitive information to minimize the damage in the event of a data breach. The less they know, the less the cybercriminals can get out of them. 

Use AI-Powered Security Solutions

When it comes to AI, two can play the game. Cybercriminals may use AI to penetrate your system, but you can also use AI to detect such threats from a mile away. The important thing is to stay a couple of steps ahead of the enemy by ensuring that experts equip your security system with the most advanced AI tools to protect your organization and your employees.

Partner with an AI Security Expert

There is a plethora of AI tools widely available to anyone, and many of these are even free. But if you want to have the most secure system possible, we strongly recommend that you seek the help of experts in AI technologies. They can give you access to the most advanced AI tools and systems. On top of that, they can customize security strategies to align with your goals.

To learn more about what you can do, watch our on-demand webinar or download our Cybersecurity E-book.

AI technology has become so powerful that it can sometimes be scary. But with the right security solutions in place, your business and your employees can stay safe. If you are ready to take the step towards higher security and more robust protective measures, let us know. We will hook you up with an expert MSP fully capable of catering to your security needs. 

Emerging Threat: AI-Powered Social Engineering

Posted on by ARRC Technology

Artificial intelligence has brought many advantages to different aspects of modern life. This new technology allows for the fast and accurate analysis of massive amounts of data. It can eliminate task redundancy and minimize human error. Businesses have benefited from this powerful tool, as it enables them to accomplish more while using fewer resources. However, AI-powered social engineering also brings with it a plethora of new security risks.  

It is an impressive bit of technology, but it is not perfect, and hackers take advantage of its vulnerabilities for their malicious purposes. Also, it didn’t take long for cybercriminals to figure out how to leverage AI tools, especially with social engineering. 

What Is Social Engineering?

Before we bring AI into the picture, let us first talk about what social engineering is and why it is considered by many to be one of the most dangerous security threats. 

It is the use of manipulative or deceptive tactics to entice unwitting victims to do something they won’t normally do, like divulging sensitive information or confidential data, granting access to unauthorized entities, or performing other actions that compromise the company’s security. 

Social engineering comes in many forms, the most prevalent of which is phishing. Other methods are pretexting, baiting, and CEO fraud. When using these strategies, hackers bank on human error or weaknesses in human nature. It has always been a very effective method of hacking, but now, with powerful AI tools, social engineering has climbed to an entirely new level. 

AI-Powered Social Engineering Techniques

Generative AI tools have taken on much of the challenge that hackers used to face with social engineering. Through a range of AI algorithms, the techniques can now be implemented faster, more efficiently, and on a much wider scale than ever before.

Personalized Phishing Campaigns

Before AI, phishing emails had a generic look. They would not immediately draw your attention because it looks like something standard or random. But with AI, hackers can now create highly personalized and more convincing phishing messages that are more likely to get a response from the recipients. They can gather and analyze huge amounts of data from all over the internet, which helps make the emails seem credible. 

Voice and Facial Recognition

It’s certainly fun to play with apps that give you AI-generated likenesses of your photos. However, hackers will use the voice and facial recognition technology in these AI apps for their social engineering schemes. You might have a video call from someone you know, not realizing that you are talking to an AI-generated video of them. Hackers can easily do this using Deepfake technology, which not only manipulates images but audio as well. 

Automated Social Media Manipulation

Another capability of AI that hackers find extremely useful is to emulate human behavior. Through data analysis and machine learning, AI can create fake social media profiles, which can then spread fake news or sway public opinion. Even worse, hackers can automate all of this so it can happen quickly and result in far-reaching disastrous consequences. 

Social Engineering Chatbots

When live chat features came into use, customers would chat with a live person in real time. An actual customer service representative answered your questions or would assist you with whatever concern you had. But these days, it’s likely that you are only talking to a chatbot, which can give very human-like responses. Hackers use similar chatbots, except, instead of providing information, their main goal is to gather data or deceive unsuspecting individuals. 

How to Keep Threats at Bay

There is no way to stop cybercriminals from using AI tools for their malicious gain, especially since these tools have proven to be very effective. Despite the rising instances of AI-powered social engineering, you can take proactive measures to keep your business secure.

Education and Awareness

Ai-powered or not, social engineering tactics are highly reliant on human negligence. So it makes sense to keep these threats under control through constant education and awareness. Businesses must conduct regular training to keep employees updated on the latest cybersecurity threats and to remind them to stay vigilant and never let their guard down. 

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

The more layers of security you have, the harder it will be for hackers to get into your system, even if they use the most advanced AI algorithms. Multi-factor authentication gives hackers an extra hurdle to overcome when they try to get into your system. 

AI-Powered Security Solutions 

If hackers are using AI to boost their social engineering game, there is no reason you shouldn’t use AI to enhance your company’s security solutions. With artificial intelligence, it is a two-way street. You can either fear it or use it to your advantage. If implemented properly, an AI-powered cybersecurity system can give you an impeccable defense against any attack that online criminals might throw your way. 

Final Thoughts on AI-Powered Social Engineering

There are multiple ways that cybercriminals can leverage AI tools for their social engineering strategies. But there are just as many ways by which you can build a formidable defense against these attacks. To learn more about what you can do, download our Cybersecurity E-book. Call us anytime so we can send you more information or schedule a free consultation! 

Why Businesses Should Be Concerned about AI and Cyber Attacks

Posted on by ARRC Technology

Hacking methodologies have improved over the years. The moment a new IT program or algorithm becomes known, cybercriminals are right on it, immediately looking for ways to use these developments to their advantage. This is especially true in the realm of AI and cyber attacks.

While artificial intelligence has long been part of daily computing, recent advancements like generative AI chatbots have become a playground for hackers. Despite having robust cybersecurity strategies, many business owners may underestimate the potential threats posed by AI and cyber attacks.

A Rise in Security Risks for Businesses Because of AI

Thanks to AI tools, what used to be impossible is now very easy. Writing content, generating code, and analyzing data—an untrained employee with just a few clicks can do even so. For sure, businesses can save a lot of time, energy, and staff by using these tools. But since these same tools are also accessible to hackers, businesses will face harsh security risks because of AI and cyber attacks. 

Using AI Tools to Launch Attacks on Companies

Hackers have found so many ways to use AI tools to launch cyber attacks. We have already discussed this in our previous two blogs, so we will no longer go into detail. However, some of the most notable applications cybercriminals have found for AI are for writing phishing emails that look very real, tracking keyboard inputs, analyzing online data, cracking passwords, and launching automated and simultaneous attacks. 

AI has basically eliminated the need for superior programming skills to be a successful hacker. Hackers can do most of the tasks within seconds, with the right strategy and using the right AI algorithms. 

So now that hackers are actively using AI as a tool to penetrate even the most foolproof systems, it is not the time for companies to sit back and relax. Instead, businesses should upgrade their cybersecurity systems, ensuring that they update them enough to protect against AI-powered security risks. 

Attacking Vulnerable Businesses with AI Systems

The widespread use of AI systems by businesses, which is understandable, is another factor contributing to the increase in cyber attacks. With the benefits these systems offer, it would be unwise not to take advantage of them. But like anything in its early stages, AI systems are still new and have a few vulnerabilities. Because of this, they have become an easy and prevalent target for hackers. 

Hackers have identified at least four methods for attacking a company’s AI system. Adversarial attacks are the most common, where an algorithm misleads a machine learning model by submitting an intentionally wrong input. Other methods are data poisoning and prompt injection, which can corrupt the system’s learning process.

Hackers favor backdoor attacks because they can infiltrate a target AI system for a very long time without the system’s security even noticing them. Backdoors are a bit more difficult to implement, but the rewards for hackers are tremendous.

How Businesses Can Mitigate AI and Cyber Attack Risks

Now, although AI comes with endless benefits, it also brings with it monumental security risks. It is also not a passing trend that will fade soon enough and that you can ignore. This is just the beginning. AI tools for hacking will become more destructive in the coming years. And for this reason, businesses must be concerned about these AI tools and cyber attacks. 

The good news is that there are many things businesses can do to protect against security risks. If you are already using generative AI tools in your business, you must identify and contain its vulnerabilities and take steps to strengthen these areas of the system. Regular employee training is also a must, particularly about prudence in entering data into AI-powered chatbots. 

It is also crucial to do data encryption when training a generative AI system for your business. Keeping data anonymous is also helpful in maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive information. Of course, your choice of AI tools is also very important. There are now so many choices available, and the tendency is to go for the cheapest one. But it is always better to spend more on a reliable tool rather than risk the security of your business for a few dollars saved. 

If you want to learn more about using AI systems and protecting your business from AI and cyber attacks, we can help. Just call us and we will schedule a consultation where we can discuss your business security needs and address them accordingly. Don’t forget to Download our E-book which talks about the cybersecurity role of AI in security.

How Is AI Used in Cybersecurity Especially in Hacking?

Posted on by ARRC Technology

Artificial intelligence has found many excellent uses in business in the past year. In particular, generative AI chatbots based on the large language model (LLM), like the currently very popular ChatGPT from OpenAI, are now being used by cybersecurity companies to respond to customer service requests, create presentations, manage meetings, write emails, and do many more tasks instead of hiring employees to do the same jobs. This, and hundreds of similar AI tools, have made work simpler, faster, and more efficient for businesses worldwide. 

But hackers have also been leveraging this impressive technology for their own illicit purposes. It was not very easy at first because ChatGPT and the other popular LLMs from Google and Microsoft all come with preventive measures, making them impossible to use for cybercrime. Clever as they are, hackers eventually found a way by creating their own LLM-based AI tools, such as WormGPT.

The Birth of AI Tools Made for Hacking in Cybersecurity

Tired of attempting to circumvent security measures in mainstream LLM chatbots, cybercriminals developed their own AI-based tools. These chatbots, specifically made for hacking, were first mentioned in the Dark Web in mid-2023. Eventually, word spread, and it was quickly being promoted over Telegram. For many of these chatbots, interested users had to pay for a subscription to get access to the tool. Some are used for a one-time purchase.

Generative AI tools appealed quickly to hackers in cybersecurity because they did most of the job for them, usually much faster, more efficiently, and with better quality. Before, hackers had to have skills or undergo training to perform the different aspects of cybercrime well. But with AI taking care of these tasks, even untrained individuals can launch an online attack using these tools. 

How Hackers Use AI Tools for Cybersecurity Attacks

Creating Better Phishing Campaigns

Hackers used to write phishing emails themselves. Because many of them are not native English speakers, it is usual to see glaring grammar and spelling errors in these emails. These are among the easiest red flags people use to identify fraudulent emails. But with AI tools like WormGPT, those telltale signs no longer apply for cybersecurity.

With these nefarious tools, all the hackers must do is describe what they want written, and the tool will produce it for them. The result is quite impressive because it is frequently free of errors and written with a convincing tone. It’s no wonder these scam emails have been very effective. 

Gathering Data on Potential Victims 

Finding information about target victims used to be a meticulous and lengthy process. Most of the time, it had to be done manually, which is inefficient and prone to mistakes. AI technology gave hackers a means to gather relevant information without exerting much effort, if at all. They must unleash the tools with the use of AI algorithms, all the details can be collected quickly, sorted, and put to use in their hacking agenda. 

Creating Malware

The original generative AI chatbots can write code. This has proved very helpful for businesses as they can create their own original simple software without hiring an entire IT team. There was a time when hackers only comprised highly skilled software experts using AI tools, even beginners could come up with formidable malware, which can cause damage in the millions of dollars. 

How to Protect Against AI-Powered Cybersecurity Attacks

AI tools for hacking are still in the early stages. The peak is yet to come, so we can only expect to see more risks from these malicious tools in the future. They will become more destructive, more efficient, and more accessible to hackers. 

To stay protected against these developments, businesses should enhance their defenses as early as now. Here are some ways to do just that. 

  • Use an AI-based cybersecurity system to defend against AI-based cyberattacks. 
  • Implement Multi-Factor Authentication for added security.
  • Conduct regular cybersecurity awareness training that includes data on AI-based online attacks.
  • Keep your network security updated.
  • Monitor developments in LLM-based activities, particularly those relevant to threat intelligence.
  • Ensure that you have a robust incident response strategy. 

Artificial intelligence has been valuable to our lives in many aspects. But since hackers also use it for online crimes, businesses need to be extra vigilant. If you need help setting up a dependable security solution against AI-based attacks, we can help you. Just let us know and we can have a dependable MSP come right over to draw up a cybersecurity solution tailored for your company that can thwart any AI-based attack that comes around. Also don’t forget to Download our E-book today which talks about the cybersecurity role of AI in security.

How Do Hackers Use AI?

Posted on by ARRC Technology

Artificial intelligence has been a key ingredient in propelling businesses forward—creating better customer engagement, cutting response times, providing client-specific solutions, and more. But hackers have also had access to the same innovative technology: AI. While businesses use it to improve their operations, hackers have also been busy using AI technology to advance their illicit activities. 

In 2022, there were 1,802 separate data breach incidents, compromising 425 million records. In 2023, there were 2,116 security incidents by October, surpassing the previous year’s numbers with still two months left. Using AI plays a huge role in the drastic rise of data breaches and other cybersecurity attacks. In this article, we will look at how hackers use AI to target and attack businesses. 

Creating Convincing Phishing Emails

Hackers have found that generative AI tools are a fast and efficient way to churn out realistic phishing emails that can easily convince unwitting victims to reveal sensitive information. Using AI, it is now easy to create targeted emails that look so real that most people won’t suspect they are fake. Hence, even the more cautious employees now have a higher chance of becoming victims, ultimately exposing the business to cyber criminals. 

Even the language barrier doesn’t help because of AI. Before, poor grammar and punctuation were immediate red flags for a phishing email. But now, AI technology has become fluent in so many languages that the text, regardless of the language, is almost flawless. Unless one is extremely vigilant, they will not find the threat. What’s even more alarming is that these phishing emails contain not only credible text, but many of them also include images, videos, and other media, which further adds to the genuine look of the email.

Generating Realistic Images and Other Media

Many of us have had fun and amusement with AI-generated images and videos—you know, those apps that create all sorts of versions of your picture. Some can even animate a photo and add sound to make it look like it is talking or singing. It’s all very entertaining, but hackers have quickly seen a different angle to this. Many of them have used these kinds of AI-generated media for illicit purposes.

For instance, you might receive a video call from one of your contacts on Messenger. You think you see them when you answer the call, but what you see is an AI-generated video clip of them trying to converse with you. This makes them more believable to the victim, who does not realize that hackers created it through AI. 

How Hackers Use AI with Automating Attacks 

AI software makes it easy for hackers to identify loopholes in a company’s security with hardly any effort. It can detect easily penetrable networks or flawed security systems. By unleashing this software all at once, multiple businesses are targeted, and the hackers will have a higher chance of a successful attack. 

How Hackers Use AI By Designing Undetectable Malware

AI-generated malware can easily pass through the strictest security systems without tripping the alarms. Unlike previous malware forms, they equip those designed and created with artificial intelligence with extra features that shield them from the most watchful cybersecurity tools. 

To avoid detection, these AI-equipped malware change their code or their behavior so that they do not arouse suspicion. Once this software gets through, it’s business as usual for the hackers to access the network as they please.

Getting Past Biometric Systems

Biometrics are highly secure, especially when compared to passwords. Because these security systems muse fingerprints and voice prompts, we assume only authorized employees can access their accounts. But then AI came along. With the ability to make remarkable copies of fingerprints and voiceprints, advanced AI technology enables hackers to deceive biometric systems.

Launching Elaborate Phishing Campaigns

Creating phishing emails is just one step in a phishing campaign, but all the other steps are now much easier with artificial intelligence. It begins with analyzing data from online sources, which is now done with AI algorithms. With access to such information, hackers will know the weaknesses of specific targets, enabling them to tailor the phishing attack accordingly. This makes the attack more likely to succeed. It seems like more work, but because it is all done with AI, it’s much easier for the hackers.

As you can see, there are countless ways that hackers use AI to hack into businesses. Awareness and understanding of these tactics are crucial for companies to protect themselves against these new forms of hacking. 

With the help of an MSP that specializes in cybersecurity, you can keep your network safe and all your information intact. If you need to level up your cybersecurity system and stay one step ahead of the hackers, call us today. We will give you a free consultation, and then we can start fortifying your company’s security system. Download our E-book today which talks about the cybersecurity role of AI in security.

Role of Cybersecurity Training in Compliance and Risk Reduction

Posted on by ARRC Technology

The primary reason for training employees on cybersecurity is to protect the organization from online attacks. But there are many other reasons you should embark on security awareness training. It is also important for customer reassurance, employee wellbeing, and, our topic for this post, cybersecurity compliance and risk reduction. 

Why is Cybersecurity Training Important in Compliance and Risk Reduction?

There are both direct and indirect correlations between cybersecurity training and regulatory compliance. For example, many regulatory agencies explicitly require businesses to conduct regular security policy training or data protection training for all employees. Failure to comply with this requirement would cause fines and other sanctions. 

It saves you from penalties and other sanctions. 

Depending on your industry, and your business location, there are some cybersecurity regulations that you would have to comply with. Some cybersecurity compliance regulations are HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOX, NYDFS, GDPR, NIST, CMMC, and many more. Failure to comply with these requirements would put your system at serious risk. But also, you might have to face steep penalties and hefty sanctions, including legal action. 

It helps avoid a range of other errors. 

Inadequately trained employees are more vulnerable to phishing and social engineering attacks. They might even unknowingly violate policies and handle data poorly, which could lead to a range of compliance errors. Proper training can help avoid all this.

It encourages alertness and vigilance. 

Unique cybersecurity training strategies like simulated attacks will boost retention and make employees more alert for looking out for cyber threats. It also ensures compliance with the Cybersecurity Framework developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and, though not a legal requirement, is one of the best risk management practices.

It emphasizes the need for encryption and data security.

Data confidentiality and risk mitigation are crucial aspects of data privacy training for meeting compliance demands, especially with encryption, data sharing, and access controls.

It makes for improved compliance audits.

Cybersecurity training ensures not only that your organization passes compliance audits but also that it does so with flying colors. When all employees receive security regulation training, there is a higher chance of getting an exemplary audit report. 

It lets regulators gauge your level of cybersecurity compliance.

A good training program comes with participation monitoring and various metrics for evaluating its effectiveness. All this is useful for regulators to check your organization’s compliance with cybersecurity requirements. 

It creates a robust security culture within your organization. 

The existence of a regular training program shows your staff that you are serious about cybersecurity and encourages everyone to take the best individual steps toward maintaining a high level of protection. It minimizes the risk of insider threat. 

It keeps everyone updated on the latest security practices and compliance standards.

Online threats continue to evolve every day, so compliance standards need to adjust as well. Regular training ensures that your entire organization is trained on all the latest advances, always keeping you compliant. 

It encourages top management to prioritize cybersecurity compliance mandates.

With a solid understanding of the importance of compliance and liability, top executives will be more attentive to enforcing mandates on cybersecurity and data protection. 

Final Thoughts on Cybersecurity Compliance

Often, cybersecurity compliance may seem like just another routine requirement in the workplace, but it has a significant impact on many aspects of the business, as you have just seen. 

Has your data been hacked? Download our Infographic, “The Top 10 steps to take if you think you have been hacked.” If you’d like, call us and we can talk about how we can customize data security for your unique needs! 

If you want to know more, just let us know and we will be happy to give you a free consultation!

Phishing and Social Engineering Training

Posted on by ARRC Technology

Companies have tried many methods to train employees about phishing and social engineering. But after all this time, over 90% of all data breaches are traced back to human error. It seems we haven’t progressed from where we were five years ago! Is it that hard to learn? Perhaps there is a better training method that we can use. 

Traditional classroom instruction works for introducing concepts, but it’s not the best strategy for optimal retention and practical application of these concepts in the real world. There must be a better way, such as simulation exercises that will encourage critical thinking in the face of an actual phishing or social engineering threat. 

10 Skills to Gain from Simulation Exercises

Realistic simulations can help employees develop skills to elevate your organization’s overall security. Here are ten benefits that your staff can gain from simulation exercises.

Ability to Spot Phishing and Social Engineering Attempts

The first line of defense against phishing is to know what it looks like. Most are cleverly cloaked to look like the real thing. There will always be telltale signs that will let you know these links, download requests, or simple email messages are not to be trusted. 

Awareness of Safe Browsing Practices

Just because your computer has built-in anti-malware tools doesn’t mean you can be lax in browsing the web. There are things you must do to maintain security each time you are online, like disabling the auto-fill feature in forms, avoiding public Wi-Fi, and using only https websites.

Creation of Strong Passwords to Prevent Phishing and Social Engineering Attacks

We all know how important it is to have strong passwords for all our accounts. Still, many employees forget, perhaps because of the volume of passwords they need to remember. Simulation exercises can show how easy it can be to crack a simple password. Seeing this would effectively drive the lesson and teach people to create long and complex passwords. These exercises can also address multi-factor authentication and an efficient password manager.

Taking Precautions in Social Media

The average person spends 2.5 hours a day on social media. This is a lot of time with exposure to online predators. You can minimize the risk by taking adequate precautions, such as limiting the posting of personal information, staying away from suspicious apps, and being aware. 

Prudence in Downloading Files

Even files from trusted sources can be infected with malware, so there is zero room for laxity. Make it a habit to scan all files before downloading and not open files from senders you don’t know.

Using Data Encryption on Phishing and Social Engineering

Data transfer is such an ordinary thing these days that some people forget to take precautions. Now more than ever, it is vital to keep all data transfers as secure as possible by using the most advanced tools and by protecting all devices used for these transfers.

Practicing Physical Security on Phishing and Social Engineering

Just because cybersecurity is in place doesn’t mean physical security protocols can be forgotten. Through simulation, you can see how incredibly easy it is to get through an unmonitored entry point in a building, or how quickly a hacker can enter a system through an unattended device. 

Maintaining Remote Security 

Using public Wi-Fi for work can open the organization’s network to the prying eyes of cybercriminals. Simulation exercises must cover home network protection, proper use of VPNs, and safety protocols for public hotspots.

Avoiding Malware Risks

Phishing simulation is a great way to teach employees to avoid malware risks. These exercises will teach them what to avoid, increasing their chances of safety for the real thing.

Taking Action on Suspicious Activities

Finally, phishing and social engineering simulation exercises will teach employees what to do if they become a cyberattack victim. Specifically, there will be instructions on incident reporting, whether the breach has been confirmed or suspected.

Is someone hacking your data? Download our Infographic, “The Top 10 steps to take if you think you have been hacked.” If you’d like, call us and we can talk about how we can customize data security for your unique needs! 

Top Mistakes to Avoid When Training Staff on Cybersecurity

Posted on by ARRC Technology

As technology continues to advance, so do the techniques used by hackers. We must keep up with their evolving strategies to keep our systems protected. To do this, regular cybersecurity training of employees is a must. Studies show that an effective training method can reduce vulnerability to phishing and similar attacks from 60% to 10% within a year.

7 Common Mistakes in Cybersecurity Training

You can do many things to get the most out of each training session. But today, we will focus on what you should NOT do because they are counterproductive to the training. Here are the top mistakes you should avoid.

Boring Training Sessions

If the training comprises text-heavy slide shows with someone just reading out loud, then you can’t blame your employees for nodding off in the first few minutes. Not only will they lose interest, but they will also gain absolutely nothing from the training. Instead, use a more engaging approach. Replace text with visuals. Encourage interactive discussions. Have some group work. 

Same Program for Everyone

In any organization, members have varying skill levels. With cybersecurity, some employees might be more aware of the latest trends. Others might not even know what phishing is. So a one-size-fits-all cybersecurity training program is bound to fail. You need to address everyone’s level and train them accordingly.

One-Time Workshop

Many still believe that compressing all the key learning areas into one big training session will work, but it will not. You can squeeze as much value as possible into a single session, but there should be a follow-up. Better yet, there should be a series of follow-ups. Ongoing reinforcement is one of the best methods for making any lesson stick. 

Focusing on In-Office Cybersecurity Training

Yes, it is important to practice online safety while in the office. But most companies today have employees in a hybrid work setup or working full-time from home. With this being the new norm, the training program must also address mobile security.

Insufficient Leadership Support in Cybersecurity Training

We always say that children emulate the behavior of their parents. The same goes for employees and their superiors. Whatever the staff is learning, the top executives must be as well.

Leaving out Incident Response Training

Prevention is indeed better than cure. However, this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t talk about handling cyberattacks when they happen. Employees need to know what actions to take in the event of a data breach to prevent the damage from escalating further.

Lack of Proper Assessment

Cybersecurity training does not end when the facilitator gives their last remarks. You must test the participants on what they have learned with these efficient assessment methods. It could be standard question-and-answer tests or random phishing simulations to check if and how the employees will apply what they have learned. 

Final Thoughts on Cybersecurity Training

Before you take your staff on their next cybersecurity training, keep these mistakes in mind and avoid them at all costs. Plan the training program so it can deliver maximum impact. Better yet, you can use a tried-and-tested program created by established and trusted cybersecurity experts to train your staff. That is something that we can help you with. 

It pleases us to present the latest tool in employee cybersecurity training—our very own microtraining platform. This method tackles all the important aspects of online security, from threat identification to incident response and everything in between. If you are interested in learning more, we have a demo of the platform that you can download by clicking right here. 

How Hackers Use Social Engineering Tactics in Phishing Scams

Posted on by ARRC Technology

Social engineering is quite a buzzword these days in the world of cybersecurity. But what is it, and why are businesses so afraid of it? It is a form of hacking that uses deception and manipulation to get victims to divulge information. Companies have reason to be fearful because social engineering tactics have led to a lot of destruction and millions of dollars in losses for businesses worldwide.

Phishing is one of the most rampant types of attacks these days. It has been highly successful because it uses tried-and-tested social engineering techniques to hoodwink potential victims.

What are these Social Engineering Tactics, and how do hackers use them?

  • Riding on human emotion. When people get scared, nervous, pressured, or curious, they are more likely to make impulsive decisions or actions. Hackers bank on this natural reflex to get victims to reveal personal information before they can think about it. By the time they have calmed down and realized the danger, it will already be too late.
  • Establishing credibility. People are quick to trust entities that have an established reputation. This includes institutions like banks or vendors, as well as personal contacts. By imitating these entities, hackers can create a credible image as one of the social engineering tactics that potential victims will almost certainly trust. 
  • Personalizing content. There is plenty of information in the public domain hackers can use to spin a web of deceit to capture their victims. It goes further than simply calling a target by name. They might refer to a concert you have recently attended or a restaurant you love. By creating familiarity, they cause a potential victim to let their guard down and be more vulnerable to an attack.
  • Using lookalike websites. Many hackers send out links that lead to fake login pages identical to real ones as one of their social engineering tactics. A typical tactic is telling you to change your password because it is about to expire. The link they send you to is a lookalike site where you can enter your data. It all looks legit, but if you look at the URL, you see it is a fake link. 
  • Creating panic-inducing situations.When people get into a panic, they rarely think logically. They will act on the impulse to free themselves from the threatening situation as quickly as possible. If the hackers tell them their account will be closed if they don’t click on the link, you can expect them to click the link in a second. 
  • Social engineering tactics – Intentionally misspelling words. The typo errors and poor grammar commonly associated with phishing emails are intentional. It is their way of dodging detection by spam filters. Since people are not as vigilant as malware detectors, hackers easily fooled many people despite these glaring errors. 
  • Attacking during holidays and special events. There is a general air of excitement and engagement around these periods, and hackers capitalize on that to boost the success rate of their phishing attacks. Also, timing the attacks with these events gives an illusion of legitimacy, which makes the targets more likely to become victims. This is one of the common social engineering tactics that hackers use. 
  • Spreading malware through attachments. Ordinarily, most systems can detect and block malware, but if these malicious files get installed into the system through phishing, your network defenses cannot do anything about it. Once installed, malicious attachments can do a range of damage, from destroying your files to stealing sensitive data. 
  • Posing as top executives is a social engineering tactic. When your boss requests confidential data, you don’t ask questions and give them what they want with minimal delay. After all, that is what a good employee does, right? Exactly! Therefore, hackers have taken this new approach of pretending to be top executives to get easy access to company information. 
  • Creating a pretext. This social engineering tactic takes a lot of work and patience because the hackers need to build trust. Gradually, they gain the confidence of the victim, who will eventually disclose information more freely. 

Final Thoughts about Social Engineering Tactics

Now that you know how hackers use social engineering tactics for phishing, you have the knowledge to avoid an attack. However, despite all the awareness and safety precautions, it is still possible to become a victim. For this, we have created an infographic called “The Top 10 Steps to Take If You Think You Have Been Hacked.” If you think you have been hacked, this tool would be very handy. You can download it right here. 

If you need more information on social engineering and other cybersecurity issues, call us. We will provide everything you need to improve your protection against online threats!

Training Employees to Spot Social Engineering

Posted on by ARRC Technology

Social engineering is one of the newest methods hackers use to access sensitive information. Rather than attacking a system directly, this technique relies on human psychology to gain information. This method is brilliant when you think about it because it does not have to deal with going past ironclad network security. If hackers can manipulate even a single employee, they might hand over sensitive information on a silver platter, and the hackers can take control of the organization’s entire system. This is why its important for your employees to learn how to spot social engineering. 

Companies must understand that if you can’t spot social engineering it can compromise business security. Reports show that over 90% of data breaches happen because of social engineering. Phishing scams account for 54% of these cases. The good news is that there is a way to prevent social engineering threats, and that is by training employees. 

Popular Social Engineering Techniques

There is a lot to cover in training employees to spot social engineering. A logical start would be to discuss the most popular techniques so employees can recognize and avoid them.

Phishing is the most common method because it is easy to execute. It also yields positive results, at least for the hackers. This method entails sending emails that deceive victims into clicking a malicious link or divulging sensitive information without realizing it.

Pretexting is when a hacker gains the victim’s trust through a pretext or a created scenario, which is part of a larger, more convoluted social engineering attack plan. There is also the quid pro quo attack, where the hacker lures the victim into divulging information in exchange for something in return. Tailgating, or piggybacking, is a popular social engineering technique where the victim unknowingly gives the hacker access to a secure location. 

Importance of Employee Training To Spot Social Engineering

These social engineering strategies would be much easier to execute if employees were untrained and unaware of the risks involved. The damage could be monumental, as the $100 million phishing scam on Google and Facebook illustrates. From 2013 to 2015, a team of hackers sent numerous phishing emails to specific employees of Google and Facebook, telling them to deposit money into fraudulent accounts. They could collect more than $100 million from this scheme. 

Now, even if your business does not have that kind of revenue, you can still be a victim. These days, hackers are targeting small businesses on a massive scale. Every employee can also be a target, from customer service personnel to top executives, so you must conduct training across the board. 

Best Ways to Train Employees to Spot Social Engineering 

There are several methods of training your employees to spot social engineering. Traditional classroom workshops, either personal or online, are excellent for an in-depth training session. A one-time seminar is hardly enough, though, and that is why we also recommend regular refreshers. 

Unannounced phishing simulations are effective in evaluating employees based on how much they have learned. It would surprise you how so many people do well in theory but still won’t be able to tell the real deal when it is staring at them from the inbox. Being bitten once in a simulated attack will teach your employees to be more vigilant.

Final Thoughts

Organizations can achieve a high level of protection against social engineering if everyone is sufficiently aware of the risks and knows what to do in case an attack goes through. Besides the various training methods, you will implement, we strongly advise you to download our infographic, “The Top 10 Steps to Take If You Think You Have Been Hacked.” Print it out and post it on every department’s bulletin board. Be sure all your employees also get their own copy. 

For more information about social engineering and how to avoid becoming a victim, call us. We can get you up to speed on the latest preventive measures and keep your company safe from the prying eyes of cybercriminals.