AI Powered Cyber Attacks (Examples) Every Business Should Know

Table of Contents

ai powered cyber threats

Every day, over half a million AI-driven cyberattacks target retailers worldwide. Let that number sink in: 569,884 attacks per day, according to cybersecurity firm Imperva’s latest analysis. These aren’t your typical cyber threats – they’re refined operations powered by artificial intelligence, capable of learning, adapting, and striking with unprecedented precision.

Picture an attack that doesn’t just rely on brute force or predefined patterns but one that uses machine learning algorithms and deep learning models to evolve in real time. These AI-powered threats can analyse defence patterns, craft personalised phishing emails indistinguishable from legitimate communications, and even create convincing deepfake videos of company executives giving urgent directives.

In this guide, we’ll walk through concrete examples of how major organisations like Activision, T-Mobile, and Yum! Brands fell victim to these advanced attacks. You’ll learn to identify the various forms these AI-enhanced threats can take and, most crucially, discover practical steps to protect your business from becoming another statistic. In today’s evolving threat landscape, understanding these AI-powered attacks isn’t just about cybersecurity – it’s about ensuring your business’s survival.

What Are AI-Powered Cyberattacks?

AI-powered cyberattacks refer to the use of artificial intelligence to enhance and automate cybercriminal activities. Unlike traditional attacks that rely heavily on human intervention, AI attacks are powered by machine learning, algorithms, and deep learning models that allow attackers to scale their efforts, adapt to defences, and exploit vulnerabilities more efficiently.

From automating phishing scams to creating deepfakes, AI enables cybercriminals to carry out more sophisticated, rapid, and convincing attacks, all while learning from previous attempts to improve the chances of success.

How Do AI-Generated Attacks Work?

AI-based attacks use machine learning algorithms, natural language processing, and other AI technologies to increase their effectiveness. The process begins with attackers collecting vast amounts of data from various sources—such as online activity, company websites, and social media profiles—which AI systems can rapidly analyse. By processing this data, AI can identify vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and patterns in an organisation’s security infrastructure.

Once the data is collected, AI adapts the attack strategy in real-time. For instance, it can fine-tune phishing attempts to appear more credible based on previous interactions or responses from the target. AI can also manipulate visual or audio content, creating deepfakes that impersonate trusted individuals, such as company executives or government officials. These attacks evolve and improve with each new attempt, allowing cybercriminals to bypass traditional security measures with greater ease and precision. This adaptability is what makes AI-driven attacks so dangerous—they learn from each action and continuously refine their methods to increase the chances of success.

What Are Common Types of AI-Powered Cyberattacks?

AI-powered cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated, using machine learning and deep learning to target vulnerabilities with precision. These attacks can affect everything from individual employees to entire organisations. Here are the common types businesses should watch for to stay protected:

AI-Driven Phishing Attacks

Phishing remains one of the most prevalent forms of cyberattacks, and AI is making these attacks more convincing. With machine learning algorithms, cybercriminals can create highly personalised phishing emails that target specific individuals. These emails often mimic trusted sources, such as business partners or company executives, using realistic language and formatting to increase their effectiveness. AI enhances the ability to craft messages that are more sophisticated and challenging for recipients to distinguish from legitimate communication.

Deepfakes

Deepfake technology, powered by AI, enables the creation of highly realistic but fake audio and video recordings. These manipulated media files can be used to impersonate individuals, leading to significant security risks. Deepfakes are particularly dangerous because they can deceive employees or customers into performing actions under the assumption that they are interacting with a trusted figure. The increasing sophistication of deepfake technology makes it harder to detect these attacks, posing a serious threat to businesses and individuals alike.

In 2024, Australians reported $43.4 million in losses to social media scams, with nearly $30 million linked to fake investment schemes using deepfake images of celebrities. In response, Meta launched the Fraud Intelligence Reciprocal Exchange (Fire) in collaboration with seven central Australian banks. This initiative enabled direct reporting of scams between financial institutions and Meta, leading to the removal of over 9,000 scam pages and 8,000 AI-generated celebrity investment scams within six months. Despite these efforts, the number of reported scams remains high, highlighting the ongoing challenges in combating AI-powered cyber attacks.

Social Engineering Attacks Using AI

Social engineering attacks manipulate individuals into divulging confidential information or performing specific actions. AI can significantly enhance these attacks by analysing vast amounts of personal data, such as social media profiles and communication patterns, to craft highly personalised and convincing strategies.

AI can create fake profiles and impersonate trusted figures within an organisation, allowing attackers to manipulate employees into revealing sensitive company information.

Example: Hackers using AI-powered tools have been able to create fake social media profiles and impersonate trusted figures within an organisation. By learning the target’s social connections, communication style, and preferences, they were able to gain access to sensitive company data through manipulation and deceit.

Worried about AI-driven phishing, deepfakes, and more? Our cybersecurity team can help you safeguard your business. Contact us today to get personalised advice and stay secure in the digital age.

Adversarial AI/ML

Adversarial AI and machine learning attacks target the vulnerabilities in AI models. These attacks involve feeding manipulated data into machine learning models in a way that causes them to make incorrect predictions or classifications. These attacks can deceive AI systems, leading to compromised outputs or even system failures. AI-powered systems, such as facial recognition or autonomous vehicles, are particularly vulnerable to adversarial manipulation, making it easier for attackers to bypass security measures or create erroneous results.

In 2019, researchers demonstrated how subtle alterations to stop signs—such as adding small stickers—could fool AI systems used in autonomous vehicles, causing the system to misinterpret the stop sign as a speed limit sign. Similarly, adversarial attacks have been used against facial recognition systems to bypass security measures.

Malicious GPTs and Automated Content Generation

AI language models like GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformers) can be used by cybercriminals to generate malicious content on a large scale. These tools can create convincing fake news articles, fraudulent websites, and phishing emails, making it harder for individuals and organisations to distinguish between legitimate and malicious content. The automation of content generation allows attackers to target specific demographics and spread misinformation or cause reputational damage to organisations at an unprecedented speed.

Ransomware attacks

Ransomware is malware that locks users out of their systems or files and demands a ransom for access to be restored. AI can be used to enhance ransomware attacks by automating the encryption process, identifying the most critical files to target, and even adjusting the ransom demands based on the perceived financial worth of the business.

In 2021, an AI-powered ransomware attack known as “DarkSide” was used to target critical infrastructure. The attack was highly sophisticated, with AI-driven algorithms assessing the potential damage of different ransom amounts, ensuring a higher likelihood of payment from the victim.

Some Real-life examples of AI-Powered Cyber Attacks

1. Activision Phishing Attack (December 2023):

Activision, the creator of the Call of Duty franchise, was targeted by a phishing campaign where hackers used AI to craft convincing SMS messages. One HR staff member fell victim to the phishing attempt, granting the attackers access to the company’s employee database, including email addresses, phone numbers, work locations, and salaries.

2. Yum! Brands Ransomware Attack (January 2023):

Yum! Brands, the parent company of fast-food chains like Taco Bell and KFC, fell victim to a ransomware attack that compromised both corporate and employee data. The attackers utilised AI to automate the selection of high-value data, forcing Yum! Brands will close nearly 300 UK branches in the next few weeks.

Don’t let AI-driven attacks catch you off guard. Contact us today to implement advanced AI security tools and practices that detect and prevent evolving threats. Let’s strengthen your business’s digital defences.

3. T-Mobile Data Breach (November 2022):

T-Mobile, a major wireless network operator, suffered a data breach where 37 million customer records were stolen. The attackers exploited an AI-equipped application programming interface (API) to gain unauthorised access, exposing sensitive client information such as full names, contact numbers, and PINs.

4. TaskRabbit Data Breach (April 2018):

TaskRabbit, a platform connecting freelancers with clients for various services, experienced a significant data breach affecting over 3.75 million records. Hackers employed an AI-enabled Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack, compromising the personal and financial information of both Taskers and Clients. The breach led to the temporary shutdown of the website and mobile app as the company addressed the incident.

How Can Businesses Mitigate AI-Powered Cyber Threats?

While AI-powered cyberattacks present significant challenges, there are several measures businesses can take to mitigate cybersecurity incidents:

1. Invest in AI-Driven Security Solutions

AI-powered cybersecurity tools can help businesses detect and respond to threats faster. These tools use machine learning to identify unusual network behaviour, detect anomalies, and predict potential threats, giving businesses a proactive defence mechanism against emerging threats.

2. Train Employees to Recognise AI-Generated Scams

Human error remains one of the most common causes of cyber breaches. Educating employees about the dangers of AI-generated phishing emails, deepfakes, and social engineering tactics is crucial. Regular training for employees can help them identify suspicious activities and reduce the risk of falling victim to these attacks.

Is your business prepared for AI-powered attacks? Protect your data and assets by partnering with our experts. Contact us for a tailored cybersecurity plan to secure your future.

3. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to business accounts, making it harder for attackers to gain unauthorised access, even if they have successfully acquired login credentials through AI-driven phishing attacks.

4. Regular Security Audits and Vulnerability Scanning

Regularly auditing your systems for vulnerabilities and conducting penetration testing can help identify and fix security gaps before attackers can exploit them. AI can assist in this process by scanning networks for unusual activity and potential weaknesses.

5. Leverage AI in Cybersecurity

Businesses can also use AI to strengthen their cybersecurity measures. By leveraging AI tools to monitor and safeguard networks, companies can automate threat detection and response, significantly reducing the time it takes to address potential security incidents.

Discover the benefits of AI in cybersecurity to enhance your organisation’s defence strategy.

Summing up!

As cyber threats continue to evolve, AI-powered attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and challenging to detect. The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence have given cybercriminals the tools they need to execute more effective, targeted, and large-scale attacks.

However, businesses can still stay one step ahead by investing in AI-driven security solutions, training their workforce, and implementing proactive measures like multi-factor authentication and regular vulnerability scanning. With the right strategies in place, businesses can effectively defend themselves against these emerging threats and safeguard their critical data and operations. The key to combating AI-driven cybercrime lies in recognising its potential and leveraging AI’s power for good to protect against malicious actors.

If your business is concerned about cyber threats and you want to strengthen your cybersecurity defences, we’re here to help. Contact us today for a tailored cybersecurity strategy that will protect your business from evolving risks. Our experts are ready to provide you with the guidance and tools you need to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. Don’t wait—secure your future now.

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp

Latest Blogs

Send us a Message

More Posts

Report A Cyber Threat

Need help from our investigation and response team?