ZDNet: AI-powered 'narrative attacks' a growing threat: 3 defense strategies for business leaders

The rise of AI-powered narrative attacks presents unprecedented cybersecurity challenges, requiring a multifaceted approach to detection, prevention, and response.

AI is a potent weapon for cybercriminals. The World Economic Forum has identified AI-enabled misinformation and disinformation as the top short-term global risk, highlighting its potential to destabilize industries and erode trust in institutions. This new breed of cyber threat dubbed the "narrative attack," combines AI-powered false narratives with traditional hacking techniques, manipulating perceptions and amplifying the impact of technical intrusions.

In my latest column for ZDNet, I wrote about the potency of hybrid cyber-attacks blended with narrative attacks. You can read the full story here.

These sophisticated attacks unfold in stages, beginning with extensive reconnaissance to identify vulnerabilities. Attackers then craft and seed false narratives through credible channels, using bot networks and fake accounts to lend legitimacy. The technical attack follows, exploiting the confusion and fear generated by the disinformation campaign. Even after the initial breach, cybercriminals continue to spread misinformation, magnifying damage and eroding customer trust.

To better understand narrative attacks created by misinformation and disinformation, I spoke with my old friend Jack Rice -- a journalist, public defender, and former CIA case officer -- about how disinformation shapes geopolitics, impacts brands, and can upend liberal democracy.

"While disinformation may seem like a new phenomenon, there is actually a long history of using misleading propaganda to manipulate adversaries," Rice said. "The US government itself has engaged in many times over the years in places like Iran, Guatemala, Congo, South Vietnam, Chile, and others. It was inevitable that these same tactics would eventually be used against the US. In my work helping countries establish the rule of law and build public trust in legal institutions, I've seen firsthand how damaging disinformation can be."

Rice recommends a multifaceted defense strategy to combat AI-enabled misinformation and disinformation. Organizations are urged to implement robust narrative intelligence platforms for early threat detection, enhance employee awareness through comprehensive training programs, and foster industry-wide intelligence-sharing collaboration.

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