GADGETS
Deepfakes are becoming more common. Here's why you should be worried
While stealing peoples faces for fake accounts or advertisements was a known risk for years, deepfake videos take this identity theft a step further. ETXStudiopic
KUALA LUMPUR: With a computer and access to the internet, anyone can produce a ''deepfake' content.
Here’s what you need to know.
WHAT IS DEEPFAKE?
• It is a combination of the terms “deep learning” and “fake,” in the form of artificial intelligence (AI).
• A “deepfake” is a falsified piece of content (videos or audio recordings) that has been manipulated or produced using AI.
• According to cybersecurity and defense-focused strategist Peter Singer, the danger of that is the technology can be used to make people believe something is real when it is not.
• Singer adds that deepfakes are extremely convincing and effectively track people into thinking that a person did or said something that never transpired.
• The technology used to produce such digital content has become accessible very easily and quickly.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
• A deep-learning system can create a convincing imitation by analysing photographs and videos from multiple angles of a target person and then copying its speech patterns and behavior.
• All sorts of modification can be done, for example, users can elongate legs, remove pimples and nowadays, some can even generate fake videos that looks very genuine.
• AI devices are already being used to put images of other people’s faces on the bodies of and put words in the mouths.
• Adjunct professor of law at New York University Paul Barrett says a method known as GANs, or generative adversarial networks, makes it more believable.
• The GANs process gets to “identify flaws in the fake content, leading to improvements addressing the flaws.”
ARE DEEPFAKES A THREAT TO SECURITY?
• Cybercriminals may use deepfakes in social engineering attacks to fool their targets into giving personal information, bank account details or even money.
• While not all deepfake videos are malicious, the technology does have the potential to cause some real trouble.
• The use of deepfakes to replicate leaders or celebrities may possibly pose a major threat to people’s statuses and to political stability as well.
• Social engineering attacks often relied on impersonation is also an emerging cybersecurity concern.
CAN MANIPULATED CONTENT BE IDENTIFIED?
• While AI can be used to make deepfakes, it can also be used to identify them.
• Many researchers are concentrating on deepfake recognition and looking for a way of controlling it, as the technology is becoming accessible to any computer user.
• But Singer said that identifying the “tells” is becoming tougher and trickier as the deepfake technology develops more advanced techniques, producing videos that look even more realistic.
• The more sophisticated they become, the harder it is to tell that they are fake.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR ORGANISATION FROM DEEPFAKES?
• AI-based detection techniques are being produced that can help us detect fakes, but it’s important to keep in mind that these is never be guaranteed.
• It is vital to always apply verification procedures.
• By enabling privacy restrictions, you can avoid scammers from effortlessly taking your voice, video, or picture.
• One of the main ways to practice good account security is by using multi-factor authentication on every account.
Here’s what you need to know.
WHAT IS DEEPFAKE?
• It is a combination of the terms “deep learning” and “fake,” in the form of artificial intelligence (AI).
• A “deepfake” is a falsified piece of content (videos or audio recordings) that has been manipulated or produced using AI.
• According to cybersecurity and defense-focused strategist Peter Singer, the danger of that is the technology can be used to make people believe something is real when it is not.
• Singer adds that deepfakes are extremely convincing and effectively track people into thinking that a person did or said something that never transpired.
• The technology used to produce such digital content has become accessible very easily and quickly.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
• A deep-learning system can create a convincing imitation by analysing photographs and videos from multiple angles of a target person and then copying its speech patterns and behavior.
• All sorts of modification can be done, for example, users can elongate legs, remove pimples and nowadays, some can even generate fake videos that looks very genuine.
• AI devices are already being used to put images of other people’s faces on the bodies of and put words in the mouths.
• Adjunct professor of law at New York University Paul Barrett says a method known as GANs, or generative adversarial networks, makes it more believable.
• The GANs process gets to “identify flaws in the fake content, leading to improvements addressing the flaws.”
ARE DEEPFAKES A THREAT TO SECURITY?
• Cybercriminals may use deepfakes in social engineering attacks to fool their targets into giving personal information, bank account details or even money.
• While not all deepfake videos are malicious, the technology does have the potential to cause some real trouble.
• The use of deepfakes to replicate leaders or celebrities may possibly pose a major threat to people’s statuses and to political stability as well.
• Social engineering attacks often relied on impersonation is also an emerging cybersecurity concern.
CAN MANIPULATED CONTENT BE IDENTIFIED?
• While AI can be used to make deepfakes, it can also be used to identify them.
• Many researchers are concentrating on deepfake recognition and looking for a way of controlling it, as the technology is becoming accessible to any computer user.
• But Singer said that identifying the “tells” is becoming tougher and trickier as the deepfake technology develops more advanced techniques, producing videos that look even more realistic.
• The more sophisticated they become, the harder it is to tell that they are fake.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR ORGANISATION FROM DEEPFAKES?
• AI-based detection techniques are being produced that can help us detect fakes, but it’s important to keep in mind that these is never be guaranteed.
• It is vital to always apply verification procedures.
• By enabling privacy restrictions, you can avoid scammers from effortlessly taking your voice, video, or picture.
• One of the main ways to practice good account security is by using multi-factor authentication on every account.