Cyberhamezas and attacks are our daily bread. The challenge facing companies lies in the rapid evolution they are presenting, which makes cyber attacks every time. We no longer talk about ransomware or phishing attacks. Many of the new threats use artificial intelligence so that the attacks are more successful and above all, cheaper to perform. In this sense, Deepfakes and synthetic voice attacks are becoming more and more prominence.
These technologies that are capable of manipulating both images and sounds, are evolved in an accelerated way and are putting the safety, reputation and operation of hundreds of companies, unable to detect these cyber -cyber threats in time. In fact, synthetic voice attacks are acquiring special relevance since they allow supplanting identities, manipulating telephone conversations and accessing confidential information through increasingly sophisticated techniques that challenge traditional controls.
WHAT ARE DEPFAKES AND SYNTHETIC VOICE ATTAGES
Deepfakes are an advanced manifestation known as Deep Learning. Its main characteristic is that they are able to precisely reproduce the facial features, gestures and speeches of a person from existing images and audio files. For example, if they apply to video they can modify interviews, corporate speeches or internal messages, making them seem authentic. However, the concept of synthetic voice attacks has evolved beyond the simple classic “edited audio”. In this case, generative algorithms, trained with voice records and intonation patterns, are able to imitate the way of talking about managers, employees or clients with surprising fidelity. Attacks with synthetic voice are used to make fraudulent calls on behalf of a recognized person, convincing employees or partners to make transfers, share sensitive information or modify business procedures, all through an audio that may sound completely legitimate.
What are the main risks of Deepfakes for companies
The risks associated with the Deepfakes and attacks with synthetic voice affect multiple business dimensions. The first and most evident is the impersonation of identity, which can lead to financial fraud or critical information leaks. A synthetic voice attack can be achieved with few seconds of real recording and materialize in calls that appear absolute veracity to the interlocutor, which is especially dangerous in departments such as finance, human resources or customer service. In addition, these attacks with synthetic voice can have a direct impact on corporate reputation: it is enough that a conversation supposedly made by a member of the Board of Directors comes to light to manipulate public perception, condition investment decisions or erode the confidence of international partners.
To all this, the technological risk must be added, since the proliferation of non -specialized solutions (such as commercial voice assistants) in work environments can facilitate access to data, train attack algorithms and accelerate the execution of large -scale automated campaigns.
On the other hand, the cost of the reaction to incidents caused by attacks with synthetic voice can be extreme. Companies must dedicate legal, technical and communication resources to mitigate the damage caused by the dissemination of false information, undue access to accounts or the alteration of internal records. In addition, factors such as regulation and regulatory compliance come into play; Many companies, especially those subject to data protection laws, are exposed to fines for inappropriate security measures against these new attack schemes. An alarming aspect is that synthetic voice attacks can be addressed not only to senior executives, but to any employee who has access to critical systems or can facilitate access through social engineering.
How to detect and prevent Depfakes attacks
In order to prevent and detect Deepfakes and synthetic voice attacks, it is necessary to establish a combination of technological innovation and internal awareness. The current Deepfake detection tools already apply artificial intelligence that can detect manipulation patterns in videos and audios, through the analysis of inconsistencies in facial movements, acoustic irregularities or changes in the texture of the voice. However, synthetic voice attacks are more difficult to distinguish genuine speech, so the development of solutions specialized in voice biometry and forensic analysis is vital. These technologies can detect minimal variations in the sound spectrum, cadence and physiological characteristics imply to replicate completely with generative algorithms.
To prevent and detect Deepfakes and synthetic voice attacks, it is necessary to establish a combination of technological innovation and internal awareness
However, and as all cybersecurity experts always emphasize, training is the magical formula to deal with new challenges. Companies must invest in continuous training and awareness about the risks and dynamics associated with attacks with synthetic voice. For example, incorporating secondary verification protocols before performing critical actions, such as bank transfers, password changes or dissemination of confidential information, is an effective measure. It is also advisable to limit the public exposure of the voices of the main managers, avoid the mass publication of presentations and interviews, and apply multifactor authentication systems in all sensitive communications.
In parallel, companies must reinforce their cybersecurity policy, integrating artificial intelligence solutions capable of monitoring calls and audios. Many communications management platforms already allow to analyze acoustic patterns and identify attempts at synthetic voice attacks. In addition, it is crucial to review and update the incident management manuals to include this new threat vector, making sure that all employees know the procedures against voice manipulation suspicions.
How to act before a synthetic voice attack case
When a company detects a possible synthetic voice attack, acting quickly and coordinated is essential to minimize the impact. The first measure is to temporarily suspend any process affected by fraudulent communication, blocking, if necessary, transactions, access or dissemination of data until verifying the authenticity of the application. It is essential to perform a forensic analysis of the audio file, resorting to acoustics and cybersecurity experts that can determine if the voice corresponds to a synthetic algorithm.
Next, the company must notify the incident to the security team and, depending on gravity, to the corresponding regulatory authorities, especially if personal data or financial relevance processes have been compromised. It is important to document the process, preserve the tests and use traceability systems to discover the origin of the attacks with a synthetic voice, since this will facilitate the investigation and possible legal persecution of those responsible. Similarly, internal and external communication should be managed transparently, informing employees and partners about what happened, the risks and measures adopted. This not only mitigates the spread of rumors, but it reinforces the culture of security and prepares the organization to face possible future attempts.
Finally, it is advisable to review all the accesses and permits granted during the period affected by the attack with a synthetic voice. This includes modifying passwords, establishing additional alerts and monitoring suspicious activities in critical systems. From now on, the company must evaluate the need to renew and strengthen its defense infrastructure against attacks with synthetic voice, considering advanced authentication technologies, permanent training and collaboration with experts experts in digital safety. Attacks with synthetic voice, as a phenomenon in permanent evolution, demand a constant adaptation of business policies, betting on a proactive strategy that combines technological intelligence, internal education and agile incident management.
The proliferation of Deepfakes and attacks with synthetic voice in the business context represents one of the great challenges of the digital age. It is important to invest in spelled solutions for detection and prevention, but it is also necessary to influence a culture of cybersecurity in companies. And in that, each company is responsible since the future will require that each organization develop its own comprehensive security strategy to protect its reputation, its assets and confidence in the face of synthetic voice attacks.
