Artificial intelligence has led to some major changes in the nature of business. Companies around the world spent over $328.34 billion on AI last year and this figure is growing at a rapid rate. It is projected to be worth nearly $1.4 trillion by 2029.
Many companies have started using AI technology to streamline and automate many aspects of their operations, including social media marketing.
However, this has led to some new risks as well. A growing number of hackers are taking advantage of AI technology to commit brazen data breaches or even take over entire networks. They are also using AI-driven hacking strategies to take over social media profiles to trick other victims, steal data or maliciously tarnish their targets’ brand images.
The risk of data breaches is shockingly high. There were over 15 million data breaches in the third quarter of 2022. This figure is starting to increase each year.
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Brands need to recognize the need to protect their social media profiles from hackers as AI technology creates a slew of new cybersecurity threats.
Dealing with Cybersecurity Risks in an Age Governed by AI Threats
We’ve all heard horror stories about social media accounts being hacked and our personal information being stolen. These risks are becoming more serious as AI is used by hackers to identify new victims and conduct more vicious attacks. But what most people don’t realize is that these dangers are real and can devastate our lives.
Many people don’t recognize the risks that AI has created. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the dangers of social media hacking and outline some steps you can take to protect yourself.
Identity Theft
Social media has become a popular place to share personal information, but sharing this information can put you at risk of identity theft and fraud. Sharing your name, address, credit card numbers, and other personal details on social networks can give identity thieves access to your financial accounts and other personal information. Using stolen information, identity thieves can create fake profiles and use that information to steal money.
Identity theft through social media can be devastating. Thieves can clone your account, add friends to your profile, and start contacting you. They may even ask you to give them money or send you a link to a dangerous website. Many victims have been scammed by people they thought were friends.
Social media is a common avenue for identity thieves, especially to target seniors. The older population tends to use social media sparingly and may not realize anything suspicious is going on. As a result, seniors are more likely to fall victim to ID fraud than younger people because they are less likely to pay attention to suspicious activity.
The good news is that AI can actually be helpful for stopping identity theft. A growing number of organizations are using AI to verify your identity more easily, which can help stop certain data breaches that will expose your identity.
However, AI has also made it easier for hackers to target their victims as well. They often use AI to gather more information and make more educated guesses about passwords and security questions. They can also launch more vicious brute force attacks by taking over more computers to create large botnets by using AI-driven cracking tools.
Spread of Malware
The malware used in social media hacking has a number of different methods of distribution. A hacker can send out malicious links through email or social media accounts, posing as a legitimate site like a news site or a survey site. This malware then steals personal information, including banking details. These details can be sold to cyber criminals on underground forums.
Malware spread through social networks has become an increasingly common problem. In fact, one in five businesses is affected by this type of attack. While email is still a significant threat, malware spread through social networks is the third most common method of malware infiltration. Therefore, companies need to be extremely cautious when clicking on suspicious links, images, or advertisements. In addition, researchers believe that this malware attack will continue to increase over the next few years, so companies should take steps to protect themselves from being hit.
Malware is also being used to exploit social media users’ private information. Social media hacking attacks may impersonate an individual in order to access private information. In addition, attackers may send fake requests and messages to friends or peers in other cases. Malware may also be used to relay lewd content.
AI has also made malware a greater threat. Hackers are using machine learning algorithms to find creative ways to evolve and bypass modern malware detection applications. They are also using AI to better identify weak points that can be exploited when writing malicious code.
Credential Theft
Credential theft is a widespread problem that affects all kinds of industries. A single good credential can allow cybercriminals to access sensitive information and breach an organization. Therefore, organizations should use cyber threat intelligence to mitigate the risk to identify and prevent this threat.
One of the most important security measures is frequently changing passwords. This is because if passwords are shared or reused, the attackers will have access to many different systems. Therefore, using strong password policies is essential. Using the same password across several accounts doubles the risk of credential theft.
The first step to prevent social media hacking is to ensure that all your passwords are as secure as possible. Weak passwords are a prime target for social media hackers. Besides brute-forcing weak passwords, hackers can also search for leaked credentials and target users with phishing campaigns. With over 15 billion leaked credentials online, cybercriminals don’t even need sophisticated technical skills to access accounts.
Duplicate Accounts
Duplicate accounts are one of the most common ways that social media networks are hacked. By using a fake account, someone can duplicate another person’s profile, including personal information, pictures, and videos. Then, hackers use these accounts to impersonate people and steal network information.
Hackers can use this information to spread hate speech, promote scams, or trick others into clicking on malware-laced links. In addition to stealing personal information, such posts can also damage your reputation. Using a Dark Web scanner to check for duplicate accounts protects you from this.
Once someone has hacked your account, the attacker can access your private information and post any messages they want. The consequences of this can be devastating. Organizations’ reputations can be damaged, their customers can be harmed, and individuals may face blackmail.
Limiting your social media connections to people you know in real life is also important. It’s also important to turn off location tagging in your posts and avoid posting information that gives away your general location.
How to Protect Your Social Media Account
- Using two-factor authentication is the most reliable way to keep your social media account safe. Authenticating with a second device makes it exponentially more difficult for hackers to access your account.
- Two-factor authentication is important, but you should also use a complex password that would be difficult to guess. A proficient password should include eight characters or more and incorporate a combination of uppercase/lowercase letters, numbers, and punctuation marks. Also, avoid choosing passwords with easily guessed words like your name or anniversary.
- In addition to being mindful of the possible ways to hack social media accounts, it’s crucial to know the signs that your account may have already been hacked. Some indicators are receiving friend requests from people you don’t recognize, seeing new posts appearing that you definitely didn’t write, or getting messages from friends that seem uncharacteristic. If suddenly any of these occur, there is a good possibility your account was breached, so you should take action, such as changing your password and enabling two-step authentication.
- Additionally, you can ensure the safety of your social media account by using a VPN. By encrypting traffic, it stops hackers from being able to see your activity- even when on public Wi-Fi.
- Lastly, use a free people finder on yourself every once in a while to see what information is out there about you. This way, you can keep an eye on your personal data and remove any old or outdated information.
By following these simple tips, you can protect your social media account from hackers and prevent them from accessing your personal information.
Conclusion
Social media hacking is a serious problem that can have devastating consequences. You can protect your account from hackers by using strong passwords, limiting your social media connections, and turning on two-factor authentication. You should also be aware of the signs that your account has been hacked and take immediate action if you suspect that it has. Lastly, using a VPN can also help to protect your social media account from hackers.