Dubai cyber chief urges public to be vigilant over AI-powered deepfake threat

Dubai's cyber chief is urging the public to remain vigilant against the potential threats posed by AI-powered deepfakes, phishing, and voice cloning. Amer Sharaf, chief executive of the Cyber Security Systems and Services Sector at the Dubai Electronic Security Centre (Desc), states that AI has made it easier for attackers to create convincing messages, calls, and videos, allowing them to carry out their schemes more rapidly.

He emphasizes that the AI threat is a global concern, with adversaries employing these methods to speed up their attacks.

Sharaf warns that deepfakes are among the most concerning threats, particularly when someone appears to be asking for money or making an unusual request. He advises people to double-check any suspicious emails by contacting the sender through their normal means or visiting their office. Voice and video cloning technology is also becoming more sophisticated, and people are advised to establish safe words with family and friends to determine the authenticity of messages.

To enhance cyber security, experts recommend keeping devices updated with the latest software, as updates often contain fixes for newly discovered security vulnerabilities. The cyber chief also highlights the importance of not disclosing personal information hastily and using two-factor authentication. He explains that software updates often include patches for freshly discovered security weaknesses.

Recently, Desc announced the launch of an AI model, Saraab, designed to detect deepfake videos. The tool scans videos frame by frame and analyzes facial features using a heat map to identify signs of manipulation that may be difficult for the human eye to detect. Saraab will be made available as an open-source tool for anyone to download and use.