Dangerous AI-induced impersonation targeting corporate high-ups escalates, causing concern in the business world

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, corporate executives are facing a surge in impersonation-based cyberattacks. These attacks, which aim to gain access to the home networks of executives, have become a significant concern, putting them and their families at risk.

Recent research by cybersecurity firm Flashpoint has shed light on this issue. The firm identified a website called "Luigi was right" in April, containing detailed personal and business information about executives at approximately 1,000 companies. This site, it seems, contained even more information than a previously identified site with a similar purpose. On May 29, "Luigi was right" appeared to go offline, and a new site called the CEO Database surfaced, containing even more information, including phone numbers and LinkedIn account information.

Flashpoint researchers believe that the rise in these attacks on executives has grown in the aftermath of a high-profile incident. They suggest that the ongoing anti-executive movement in the U.S. may have been supported and cultivated by these websites.

The rise in these attacks is linked to the growing sophistication of voice-cloning and deepfake technology. Attackers are increasingly creating fake video or audio files of executives or their family members to steal money or trick targets into releasing sensitive data or taking other actions that could compromise their company. After breaching their targets, the attackers use their privileged access to further dupe the victims' colleagues and engage in corporate espionage or extortion.

The Ponemon Institute, in a survey sponsored by BlackCloak, found that slightly more than half of security professionals said hackers personally targeted an executive at their organization this year, up from 43% two years ago. Similarly, a conference held on May 15 revealed that 41% of the 5.5 million high-net-worth individuals in the U.S. reported being the victim of a digital or physical crime.

Chris Pierson, founder and CEO of BlackCloak, stated that as AI technology advances, attackers are shifting their focus from technical exploits to human emotions, using deeply personal and well-orchestrated social engineering tactics.

Researchers from Flashpoint stated that based on the likelihood that personal contact information was present on the websites "Luigi was right" and the CEO Database, threat actors could potentially gain access to additional Personally Identifiable Information (PII). However, it's important to note that there is no publicly available information about specific company executives being extensively featured on these websites.

In light of these developments, it's crucial for executives to be vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families from these cyber threats. This includes strengthening home network security, being cautious of suspicious emails or messages, and being aware of the potential risks associated with deepfake technology.

Flashpoint researchers chose to remain anonymous due to safety concerns associated with their work. Despite this, their findings underscore the urgent need for increased awareness and action to protect corporate executives from the growing threat of cyberattacks.

Dangerous AI-induced impersonation targeting corporate high-ups escalates, causing concern in the business world