AI-Driven Data Breaches: What You Need to Know

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Blog Data Breach

October 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a popular tool to aid in writing, art, marketing, finance, and many other areas of everyday life. As it has become more commonplace, it has also fallen into predatory hands. Scammers are now using AI as a weapon to trick people into giving up their private information. Once scammers get their hands on your personal data, they can use it for their own purposes or sell it.

AI-driven data breaches of personal info are widespread these days. It’s especially important to keep an eye out for these five types of scams that specifically target your identity:

· AI-enhanced phishing attacks

· Synthetic identity theft using AI

· Deepfake identity fraud

· AI-based credential stuffing attacks

· AI-powered social engineering

We’ll dive deeper into each of these attacks so that you can know exactly what to look out for, and what to do if you fall prey to one of these AI scams.

AI-enhanced phishing attacks

Phishing emails or texts are common tools that scammers use to get victims to click malicious links or hand over sensitive information. A typical phishing email may look like it’s coming from a trusted friend or coworker, while urgently asking you to click a link to complete an action. That link contains malware to hack your device or takes you to a fake website where you are requested to input login credentials, your Social Security number, or other details.

With the help of AI, scammers are now able to make emails and texts look even more convincing. AI helps fraudsters write grammatically correct messages and present them in a personable manner so that you believe they are coming from a trusted source.

Synthetic identity theft using AI

AI makes it easy for scammers to record someone’s voice. Once recorded, they can clone the voice to say other words and use it to their advantage. For example, a fraudster could find a video of your relative on social media and clone their voice out of that video. Next, they use that AI-empowered voice to call you and ask for money, login info, or other personal data. They may even pretend to be in trouble and need you to pay a ransom.

Deepfake identity fraud

Some scammers use AI to create images of real people. If they get their hands on enough images of you, they could be able to make a new image that compromises your reputation. They can then

extort you for money in exchange for deleting that fake image. Or they may use their fake images of you to pose as you and get money, services, or other advantages in your name.

AI-based credential stuffing attacks

Credential stuffing is a tactic wherein scammers use lists of stolen names and passwords to attempt to log in to lots of accounts at once. If a scammer finds your login credentials in a data breach, your info may be used for such an attack. AI is helpful for scammers because it allows them to easily automate the attack and work on large numbers of accounts simultaneously.

AI-powered social engineering

Scammers sometimes use social engineering tactics by tricking people into trusting them and giving up personal info or taking illegal action on the scammer’s behalf. AI helps fraudsters do this even more effectively by letting them gather huge amounts of info and create deeply personal schemes to manipulate people. AI also helps scammers avoid detection by constantly learning and evolving.

Ways to protect yourself from AI-driven identity theft

One of the best ways to protect yourself from clever identity theft tactics is to take proactive steps before anything bad happens. Sign up for an identity monitoring and restoration service like IDShield. A good protection service will monitor your devices and accounts and alert you to suspicious activity before identity theft becomes a larger issue.

With IDShield, you can protect yourself, your spouse, and up to 10 dependents with a family plan. We will monitor the accounts that you input, send alerts about questionable activity, and provide action steps for you to take.

If identity theft does occur, our licensed private investigators will do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to restore your identity to its pre-theft status. IDShield offers access to real people who can help with your real problems, as well as simple automated solutions for more minor issues that may pop up.

In addition to signing up for an IDShield Membership, you can also take a few other protective measures today:

· Opt for multi-factor authentication to log in to your accounts– for example, a username, password, and fingerprint or security question that only you know the answer to.

· Run regular updates on all your devices to make sure they have the latest malware protection.

· Use unique, complex passwords for each different online account.

· Don’t share personal information on social media.

Why your identity deserves stronger protection

The aftermath of identity theft is exhausting. If you become the victim of identity theft, you could be left dealing with financial, professional, and personal problems for months or even years.

IDShield doesn’t leave you to defend yourself and handle the fallout on your own. Artificial intelligence may be a fairly new development, but scammers have always existed and always will. Let us help you protect and empower yourself against fraud and identity theft.

Take the next step!

Reach out to a LegalShield Independent Associate and become an IDShield member today!

Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (“PPLSI”) provides access to identity theft services through membership-based participation. IDShield is a product of PPLSI. All Licensed Private Investigators are licensed in the state of Oklahoma. The information made available in this blog is meant to provide general information and is not intended to provide professional advice, render an opinion, or provide a recommendation as to a specific matter. The blog post is not a substitute for competent and professional advice. Information contained in the blog may be provided by authors who could be third-party paid contributors. All information by authors is accepted in good faith; however, PPLSI makes no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of such information.