Cipher, Prosegur's cybersecurity division, warns of the use of AI to carry out cyberattacks on days of high consumption

Madrid, November 20, 2024.- Cipher, the cybersecurity unit of the Prosegur Group, points out that a significant increase in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by attackers is expected on key dates such as Black Friday, the Christmas period or the January sales. To do this, cybercriminals use automated tools, being able to create more convincing phishing messages, impersonate identities almost undetectably, and launch massive attacks in a matter of minutes. According to data from the National Institute of Cybersecurity (INCIBE), in 2023 more than 83,500 cybersecurity incidents were managed in Spain, of which 58,000 affected private citizens and the rest companies.

This trend has continued during this year, in which there is an unprecedented increase in cybersecurity incidents. In an environment of increasing digitalization and technological transformation such as the one we live in, cybersecurity has become a key factor. Present in the strategy of the vast majority of companies and organizations around the world, taking care of it is a fundamental action during the busiest commercial season of the year, which runs from Black Friday (November 29) to Christmas. In this period, digital security is, more than ever, a critical need for consumers, companies and institutions.

It is expected that, with the boom in online transactions that take place at this time of year, the volume of cyberattacks will increase in parallel. A germ for cybercrime that is accompanied by a deployment of digital threats, which become more sophisticated year after year, incorporating technological and social engineering attacks, fraudulent notifications with trap links and innovative malware tactics.

In this scenario, Cipher recommends designing security measures proportional to the risks to which organizations and individuals are exposed:

• Fraud through fake emails (phishing), aimed at obtaining personal and banking data.
• The cloning of websites, used to collect personally identifiable information (PII), credentials, and banking details from consumers.
• The spread of malicious applications, taking advantage of campaigns such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday to increase the number of their downloads. These are applications designed with the intention of stealing data, damaging devices or compromising the user's security, disguising themselves as legitimate software to deceive and take advantage of those who install them.
• Malvertising, which are online advertisements used by cyberattackers to distribute malicious programs or redirect user traffic.
• Fake coupon and discount scams that seek to attract the most unsuspecting users.

Counterattack strategies: 

In response to these new tactics, cybersecurity solutions have also evolved. Proactive detection and the use of defensive AI make it possible to identify anomalous patterns and block attacks before they materialize. Strategies such as Cyber Threat Intelligence, analyze and organize information on emerging threats, prevent and mitigate attacks, and offer education and training to consumers on cybersecurity, something that becomes crucial to reduce the impact of these attacks.

During this season, Cipher strengthens its analysis and response capacity, increasing data collection and evaluation to detect and counter suspicious activity through proactive actions.

Along with the use of advanced solutions for the prevention of attacks, against companies and individuals, consumers are advised to be wary of offers that seem too good to be true, and to use secure networks to make their purchases online. It is also critical for companies to conduct security audits before the increase in transactions and strengthen their data protection protocols.

 

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