A pair of security reports reveal how hackers are taking advantage of the AI hype to sneak malware apps into our devices.
AI continues to be the biggest thing in tech, so it’s no wonder hackers want to take advantage of it in their attacks on unsuspecting victims. A few days ago, we learned of a clever campaign on social media platforms like TikTok, where hackers uploaded clips narrated by AI that convinced users to install malware on their computers. Those who fell for the attack thought the videos provided instructions on activating pirated software.
That’s not the only way attackers use AI’s popularity to trick users into installing malware on their devices. A pair of reports from Talos and Google’s Mandiant came out this week detailing the novel AI-based attacks.
Hackers are conning victims into downloading malware apps by promoting the programs as AI tools they might want to use for personal or business purposes.
I’ve often told people to try AI even if it seems scary, as chatting with tools like ChatGPT or Gemini will prepare them for the AI era of computing. Your job might one day depend on using AI. However, that doesn’t mean you should use AI products from shady sources or try to skirt the costs involved with access to premium features.
As with most other types of software, AI programs can’t be free. You shouldn’t be looking for deals from third-party providers that are too good to be true, as they might turn out to be hackers who can’t wait to infect your devices with malware-laden files.
