AI has transformed cybersecurity, both as a defense mechanism and as a weapon for attackers.
Generative AI tools now enable cybercriminals to launch attacks that are faster, more convincing, and harder to detect than ever before.
The AI-Powered Threat Landscape
AI-Powered Phishing
Since the launch of generative AI tools, phishing attacks have increased by over 1,200%, making them more personalized (through scraping public information such as social media posts) and grammatically flawless. AI makes phishing emails more dangerous by:
- Removing grammar mistakes and awkward wording
- Mimicking real brands, professors, or offices
- Personalizing messages at scale
These attacks are harder for both humans and security tools to detect.
Deepfake Scams
A deepfake is an image, video, or audio recording that has been edited using an algorithm to replace the person in the original with someone else in a way that makes it look authentic. Deepfakes (via video or audio) are used to impersonate:
- Family members or friends asking for urgent help or money
- Bosses or professors requesting sensitive information
- Campus or student leaders promoting fake opportunities
- Trusted public figures appearing to “endorse” scams
Business Email Compromise (BEC)
Business Email Compromise (BEC) is an attack where bad actors break into or impersonate someone's email account, often belonging to a high-ranking executive or trusted employee. These spear phishing scams include tricking recipients into:
- Sharing login credentials
- Downloading ransomware/malware
- Initiating fund transfers or purchasing gift cards
BEC scams cost $2.77 billion in 2024, according to the FBI, and attacks are growing more sophisticated with AI-driven impersonation and voice cloning.
Ghost Student Scams
In this type of scam, cyber criminals use stolen personal information and AI chatbots to create fake “ghost students” that enroll in online college courses just long enough to receive financial aid. AI tools are used to submit assignments, interact in classes, and impersonate real students, making fake enrollments harder to detect.
Why it matters to students: Victims may discover loans or grants taken out in their name, face identity theft issues, and spend months working to clear fraudulent debt.
Why These Threats Spread So Fast
AI operates at machine speed. Automated scanning can launch thousands of attack probes per second, and breaches can occur in minutes rather than days, compared to traditional attacks.
The Human Factor: Digital Fatigue
Cybersecurity is a very human problem. Consider that 58% of employees feel that they must always be available, leading to burnout. This is especially true for remote workers. These overwhelmed workers fall for scams out of exhaustion rather than negligence.
The Best Defense Strategy: Pause–Confirm–Protect
In the age of AI, You – not technology – are the best defense. Practicing mindful habits will flout the exploits of cyber criminals.
Three simple habits can help you from taking action that may prove to have negative consequences: Pause -- Confirm -- Protect.
Pause
Pause for about 30 seconds. Turn away from your screen and ask yourself three questions:
- What exactly is being requested?
- Why the rush?
- What’s the risk if I’m wrong?
This small break helps you spot red flags when workload or fatigue narrows attention.
Confirm
Confirm the legitimacy of a request by using trusted resources not found in the original request, such as calling the requestor from a number found in a phone directory or on a website. DO NOT TRUST THE INFORMATION IN THE ORIGINAL MESSAGE.
Protect
Protect information proactively by doing the following:
- Turn on multi-factor authentication everywhere (MFA). Microsoft data shows 99.9% of compromised accounts lacked MFA.
- Update all software when you receive notifications that one is available.
- If something looks suspicious, report it immediately.