Deepfakes Increase by 900% Annually: The Week in Cybersecurity

AI has significantly enhanced the profitability of numerous industries, but it has also allowed cybercriminals to proliferate. Globally, Meta’s Threads registered over 200 suspicious malware attacks within the first 24 hours of its release. Furthermore, deepfakes enabled by Generative AI grew by 900% between 2019 and 2020.

In other news, a report by PwC says that businesses in Mexico and abroad would benefit from investing in AI. 

Ready? This is the week in Cybersecurity.

Mexico

AI to Increase Business Earnings: PwC

Artificial intelligence (AI) is not only transforming the work environment and boosting employee productivity but has also significantly enhanced the profitability of numerous industries, found a new report by PwC. The study estimates that China will witness a remarkable 26% boost to its GDP by 2030, followed closely by a 14.5% increase in North America. Together, these regions are projected to account for nearly 70% of the global economic impact of AI, equivalent to US$10.7 trillion. As Mexico navigates the evolving digital landscape, it is crucial for policymakers, businesses and stakeholders to collaborate in creating an enabling environment for AI adoption. 

International

Meta’s Threads Registers Over 200 Malware Attacks in 24 Hours

Threads registered over 200 suspicious malware attacks within the first 24 hours of its release, reports Karspersky. The techniques employed by hackers on Threads involved sending new users malicious links that promised to sell them followers. Once users' devices are infected, attackers can gain control and carry out cybercrimes, such as credential theft and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. 

Deepfakes Increase by 900% Annually: WEF

According to data from the World Economic Forum, deepfakes enabled by Generative AI grew 900% between 2019 and 2020 due to the realism of fake images and the gains they can generate through them. This technology has contributed significantly to the amount of misinformation and the number of "fake news” on the web, undermining social and political issues with tangible consequences. Recent estimates from Europol researchers suggest that up to 90% of online content may be synthetically generated by 2026.

Social Media, Engineering: Key Cybersecurity Concerns

With cybercriminals growing increasingly sophisticated, the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors has emerged as a critical pillar in combating cyberthreats, reports Spain’s National Cybersecurity Forum. The forum reports that some of the most pressing topics in the sector include corporate social responsibility and R&D, among others. 

Dark Web Market to Hit US$8 Trillion in 2023: Karspersky 

Despite experiencing its peak during March 2020 due to the economic decline triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, cybercrime services offered in the dark web are estimated to reach US$8 trillion by the end of 2023. Between January 2020 and June 2022, Kaspersky has found more than 200,000 job ads posted on 155 dark web forums, proving the recent commercial potential of this illicit sector. This underground economy has even created a lucrative job market, with average monthly salaries reaching US$20,000.