Top 6 AI-Fueled Cybercrime Predictions For 2024

Rise of AI-Powered Cybercrime 

Cybersecurity and antivirus services provider McAfee Corp recently released its predictions for cybercrimes that will potentially trouble the world in 2024. With the advancement of AI, cybercriminals are expected to up their game and continue to exploit technology to carry out dangerous deepfakes, thefts, and cyber scams. Here’s a look at the cybercrime predictions.  

1. Deep Fakes May Disrupt 2024 Elections

In 2024, “Fake news” is set to reach new summits in the context of the U.S. presidential elections, Indian general elections, and the European parliamentary elections. Voters and fake news hunters will have a mammoth task at hand to filter through a slew of deepfake videos, AI-generated voice content, photo scams, and more. Such content with visual and voice fabrication can dent a politician’s reputation even before it is debunked. Thus, in the new year, the world will see elections happen in a new era of cybercrimes backed by artificial intelligence.

2. Cybercriminals will exert influence on social media

AI will also help cybercriminals manipulate social media and shape public opinion. AI tools will help fabricate photos, and videos to generate threads and posts that will target individuals, personalities, or organizations to sway public opinion. Consumers may be encouraged to purchase products by deepfakes of their favorite celebrities or influencers.

3. Cyberbullying expected to rise

Another worrying trend that deepfakes will fuel is cyberbullying. With increasing access to applications that generate deepfake content, young adults can remotely create exceptionally realistic fake content to bully others or target someone’s reputation. Cyberbullies may also manipulate images available in the public domain and repost fabricated and explicit versions of those images. This can pose significant and lasting harm to kids and their families, impacting their privacy, identity, and well-being.

4. Charity fraud will soar

One of the most heartless methods of scamming people, charity fraud will continue to rise in the upcoming year. Falsified phishing pages and online charitable platforms will continue to trick more and more contributors into thinking they are supporting legitimate causes. In 2024, criminals will take advantage of the highly visible conflicts and humanitarian crises to steal from people who are looking to help the needy.

5. AI will power new malware, voice, visual cloning, and QR code scams

Apart from creating content, AI can also quickly write code for applications, posing a significant threat. In the wrong hands, AI can create advanced malware and malicious websites at a blistering pace. AI can further boost the creation and dissemination of convincing phishing emails and QR code scams, aimed at deceiving unsuspecting targets and scamming them out of money. QR code scams, also known as quishing, can also he aided with the use of AI. Advanced tools can generate malicious QR codes that, when scanned, lead to phishing websites or trigger malware downloads on mobile devices.

6. Olympic games may become a breeding ground for scams

Cybercriminals are great at exploiting global events to scam people. The Paris 2024 Olympics can potentially become one such global event that may be targeted by cybercrooks. The scammers may look to exploit the consumer enthusiasm around the event, scamming fans who are looking to buy tickets, book travel, and participate in giveaways. They may also be lured by exclusive offers, travel packages, or last-minute entries through fake websites to ultimately get their personal information and payment details stolen.