Hello From the Dumpster Fire: Real Examples of Artificially Generated Malware, Disinformation and Scam Campaigns | A SecTor Cybersecurity Conference Toronto 2024 Conversation with Ashley Jess | On Location Coverage with Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli

Guest: Ashley Jess, Senior Intelligence Analyst, Intel 471 [@Intel471Inc]

At SecTor | https://www.blackhat.com/sector/2024/briefings/schedule/speakers.html#ashley-jess-48633

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Hosts: 

Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast [@RedefiningCyber]

On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/sean-martin

Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast

On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli

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Episode Notes

As part of their Chats on the Road for the On Location series during SecTor in Toronto, Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli had an engaging conversation with Ashley Jess, a Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst from Intel471.

The discussion centered on the intricacies of artificial intelligence (AI), its uses, and its abuses in the realm of cybersecurity. Ashley's upcoming presentation titled "Hello from the Dumpster Fire: Real Examples of Artificially Generated Malware, Disinformation, and Scam Campaigns" sets the stage for an in-depth exploration into the dark side of AI. Ashley gives a glimpse into how AI is being utilized for nefarious purposes, highlighting the connection between generative AI and disinformation campaigns. She explains how AI has been used to create politically motivated fake graffiti, deepfake videos with celebrities, and even entirely fabricated news websites.

She emphasizes that the lowest barrier to entry for generating such content is lower than ever, making it easy for bad actors to create and spread false information swiftly. She mentions a particularly interesting case during the Olympics, where an entire propaganda movie starring a deepfake Tom Cruise was produced for political purposes. This example underscores the potential of AI to convincingly spread disinformation on a massive scale. She also points out how scam campaigns are increasingly leveraging AI, making them more believable and harder to detect.

One crucial topic Ashley touches on is the matter of responsibility in combating these threats. She discusses the need for more robust government regulations and the role of various technology vendors in detecting and preventing the misuse of AI. She highlights the importance of technologies like Web3 and blockchain for content provenance.

According to Ashley, integrating such measures into platforms used by everyday people can help mitigate the risks posed by AI-generated disinformation. Marco Ciappelli adds to this by reflecting on how easy it is to create misleading content and target vulnerable populations. He points out that ordinary citizens, who are not as vigilant or technologically savvy, are at greater risk. On this note, Sean Martin questions who should be responsible for protecting individuals and organizations from AI-based threats.

The discussion also touches on the ethical aspects of AI and its dual-use nature—where technological advancements can be both beneficial and harmful. Ashley emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that considers both the legitimate applications of AI technology and its potential for abuse. Ashley Jess is enthusiastic about her upcoming talk at SecTor where she promises to delve further into these critical issues.

The session aims to provide a realistic, frontline view of how AI is being used maliciously and to encourage more proactive measures to combat these emerging threats. For those attending SecTor, her insights promise to be both enlightening and essential.

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Resources

Hello From the Dumpster Fire: Real Examples of Artificially Generated Malware, Disinformation and Scam Campaigns (Session): https://www.blackhat.com/sector/2024/briefings/schedule/#hello-from-the-dumpster-fire-real-examples-of-artificially-generated-malware-disinformation-and-scam-campaigns-41161

Learn more about SecTor Cybersecurity Conference Toronto 2024: https://www.blackhat.com/sector/2024/index.html

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