Artificial intelligence has become a tool for both sides: defenders use it to detect threats, while attackers use it to create more convincing attacks. In 2026, AI attacks have reached a new level.
New Threats
Voice Deepfakes
A few seconds of voice recording is enough to create a convincing imitation. Scammers call pretending to be relatives, colleagues, or executives.
Real cases:
- Call “from the CEO” urgently requesting a money transfer
- Voice message “from a friend” asking for help
- Bank support service imitation
Why it’s dangerous: The human brain trusts familiar voices. Emotional reaction outpaces critical thinking.
Video Deepfakes
A video call with a “colleague” or “relative” that’s actually a real-time generated image.
Applications:
- Fake video conferences
- Compromising content
- False evidence
Quality in 2026: Deepfake detectors lag behind generators. Regular users can’t spot the fake.
Smart Phishing
AI analyzes social media, email, data breaches, and creates personalized attacks.
Differences from regular phishing:
| Traditional | AI Phishing |
|---|---|
| Mass mailings | Personalized emails |
| Obvious errors | Perfect grammar |
| Template text | Context and style awareness |
| Random sender | Real contact imitation |
Autonomous Malware
New generation of malware with AI elements:
- Self-adapts to the environment
- Bypasses security systems
- Mutates to avoid detection
- Chooses optimal activation timing
How AI Helps Attackers
Scaling
Quality social engineering used to require manual work. AI automates the process: thousands of personalized attacks instead of one.
Adaptation Speed
AI systems quickly analyze which methods work and adjust tactics in real time.
Defense Bypassing
Generative models create unique malware variants that signature-based antivirus can’t recognize.
Social Engineering
AI studies the victim’s digital footprint and builds a psychological profile. The attack accounts for interests, fears, habits.
Signs of an AI Attack
During Calls and Video Chats
- Unusual requests for money or data
- Urgency that doesn’t allow verification
- Micro-delays in reactions
- Unnatural speech pauses
- Strange lighting or background
In Messages
- Perfect text without typical human errors
- Uncharacteristic communication style
- References to non-existent events
- Emotional pressure
In Software
- Unexplained system activity
- Programs changing behavior
- Unpredictable network connections
Protection Methods
Code Words
Agree with loved ones on a secret word that confirms identity during suspicious calls.
How to use:
- Choose a word that’s hard to guess
- Don’t use it in regular messaging
- Request the word for any suspicious request
Callback
When receiving a call from “the bank,” “a colleague,” or “a relative” - hang up and call back using a known number.
Important: Don’t call back the number from the missed call - it may be spoofed.
Multi-Factor Confirmation
For critical operations, require confirmation through different channels: call + message, email + app.
Healthy Skepticism
- Any urgency is a reason to pause
- Unusual requests need verification
- Emotional pressure is a red flag
Limiting Digital Footprint
The less data about you is publicly available, the harder it is to create a personalized attack.
- Private social media profiles
- Minimum personal information online
- Different data for different services
Technical Measures
Modern Antivirus with AI
Next-generation solutions use machine learning to detect unknown threats by behavior, not signatures.
Network Activity Monitoring
Unusual connections, data transfers to unexpected places - signs of compromise.
Regular Updates
AI malware exploits vulnerabilities. Patched vulnerabilities mean closed doors.
Network Segmentation
One device infection shouldn’t grant access to the entire network.
What to Do If an Attack Succeeds
Data Breach
- Change passwords for affected accounts
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Check active sessions and terminate suspicious ones
- Notify your bank if financial data is compromised
Financial Losses
- Contact your bank immediately
- Document all incident details
- File a report with law enforcement
- Preserve all evidence
Device Compromise
- Disconnect the device from the network
- Don’t try to “clean” it yourself
- Contact specialists
- Restore the system from backup
Future of AI Threats
What to Expect
- Real-time deepfakes will become indistinguishable
- Personalized attacks will reach targeted attack levels
- Autonomous malware will learn while operating
- Voice assistants will become an attack vector
How to Prepare
- Develop critical thinking
- Create backup verification channels
- Follow cybersecurity news
- Update protection tools
Summary
AI has made attacks more convincing and scalable. Traditional protection methods - antivirus and firewall - are not enough. Critical thinking, alternative channel verification, and healthy skepticism are becoming the main protection tools.
Tainet protects your traffic from interception and analysis, making it harder to collect data for personalized AI attacks. Encryption is the first barrier against attackers.
