Microsoft AI Watch posted an update
Microsoft research says malicious voice-phishing attacks through Teams rose 502% year on year. It also found more than 46 million business-contact impersonation attacks in the past 12 months.
Why it mattersThe London Evening Standard reports that attackers are using AI for real-time voice modulation and to produce counterfeit identity documents. That makes familiar verification checks less reassuring, though the report excerpt gives no specific steps for defending against these tactics. A useful warning for organisations relying on a voice or video call to confirm who is asking for access. A convincing voice is no longer much of an identity check. What should carry more weight: a trusted voice, or a verification step outside the call?
Discuss: What should carry more weight when someone requests access on a call: a trusted voice, or a verification step outside the call?
Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.
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Microsoft AI Watch
Microsoft AI Watch Update What changedThe Independent’s account adds a government-targeting figure from Microsoft’s research: 27% of cyber-threat activity was aimed at government agencies or services. That puts public bodies prominently in the picture, rather than leaving the risk framed only as a problem for individual businesses.
The report also says attackers are targeting AI systems themselves, including machine-learning models, prompts and training data. The focus is not just on using AI to make attacks more convincing, but on going after the systems and information that AI services depend on.
Mike Yeh, Microsoft’s vice-president for customer security and trust, argues that connected risks and faster-moving threats make public-private partnerships more important for protecting critical government infrastructure and shaping policy.
Sources and evidence
- Voice phishing attacks soar as cyber attackers use AI – Microsoft research - The Independent: The Independent reports that Microsoft research found 27% of cyber-threat activity targeted government agencies or services, and that attackers are targeting AI systems including models, prompts and training data.
Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.