Deepfake Vulnerability Assessments

When a prominent IT service provider approached Breacher.ai, they were deeply concerned about the rising threat of deep fake technology.

Like all of us, they had seen the alarming rise in AI to create convincingly fake audio and video content and watched as more and more companies were falling victim to fraud with apparent ease.

With a lot at stake: large financial transactions as part of their business processes, highly sensitive data to protect, and their reputation as a trusted IT provider on the line, they were looking for a solution to protect themselves quickly.

The Challenge: Finding a Suitable Solution

The IT service provider’s goal was to ensure their organization could withstand deepfake attacks, as even one breach has the potential to devastate their business.

A significant challenge was the difficulty in finding a turnkey solution that was not only effective but also resource-efficient—minimizing the need for extensive internal effort and allowing for quick implementation.

Furthermore, no existing solutions directly targeted deepfake threats, leaving them at a loss as to what to do next.

Deepfake Defense Solution Found

Through a mutual contact, they finally came across Breacher.ai.

Breacher.ai offered a comprehensive, ready-to-deploy solution that integrated smoothly with their existing systems. The ease of implementation meant they could quickly enhance their security posture without significant disruption.

The specialist technology and expertise that Breacher.ai brought to the table were exactly what they needed to address the deepfake threat effectively.

Their initial goal was to determine whether their financial department could withstand a deep fake attack.

As part of the assessment process, Breacher.ai was tasked with simulating a breach that would test its defenses and highlight any potential weaknesses.

The Attack Simulation

Breacher executed an attack simulation, leveraging both technology and social engineering.

They launched a hybrid spear-phishing campaign via email, attaching an audio file ‘voice message.’ This was, in fact, a deepfake voice clone of the CEO requesting an urgent meeting to discuss a wire transfer as a service credit.

The email instructed the recipient to contact her ‘CEO’ via text using a spoofed phone number. Once contacted, the spoofed number auto-responded with a link to a Microsoft Teams meeting.

Breacher’s simulator then replicated a Microsoft Teams meeting environment, complete with a deepfake video of the CEO providing detailed instructions for the wire transfer.

The financial department personnel, convinced by the authenticity of the deepfake, went ahead and confirmed the transaction.

Intervention: Stopping the Attack

During simulations, Breacher uses fictional account and transaction details to ensure there is no risk of financial loss.

Furthermore, the transfer was halted before any funds were moved, ensuring the organization remained unaffected.

This simulation allowed Breacher to assess the organization’s vulnerability to deepfake audio, deepfake video, phishing, and SMS attacks in a single, comprehensive exercise.

This simulation not only demonstrated the company’s vulnerability to deepfake technology but also tested their response protocols in a high-stakes scenario.

Moving Forward

Breacher is now set to implement a suite of advanced measures to ensure top-level protection for the IT company against deepfake attacks. These measures include:

1. Regular Testing and Training: Breacher will conduct frequent security tests, including deepfake attack simulations, to continuously identify vulnerabilities and enhance response protocols.

2. Advanced Detection Tools: Using AI-driven tools, Breacher will detect deep fakes by analyzing inconsistencies in audio and video content, ensuring robust defense mechanisms.

3. Robust Verification Processes: To fortify security, implement multi-layered verification for sensitive transactions, such as dual verification through multiple communication channels.

4. Employee Education: Comprehensive training for employees on the threat of deepfakes, equipping them to recognize and report suspicious communications.

This collaboration has strengthened their security measures and provided peace of mind, knowing they can better protect their financial assets, sensitive data, employees, and reputation as a trusted IT provider.

Conclusion

The successful deepfake simulation on this large IT service provider highlights the necessity for ongoing vigilance and proactive measures against evolving cyber threats.

By acknowledging the potential vulnerabilities and implementing rigorous testing and training, organizations can better protect themselves from sophisticated attacks like deep fakes.

This case study serves as a crucial reminder for all companies to regularly assess and update their security frameworks to address the evolving cyber threat risk.

For more information on protecting your organization, contact Breacher.ai at: support@breacher.ai