AI isn't just for cool new tools and faster workflows. It's also giving cybercriminals new tricks and some of them are straight out of a horror movie.
Don't get me wrong: AI isn't "evil." But attackers have the same access to these tools that you do. And if you're running a legal firm, accounting practice, manufacturing business, or oil & gas operation in Houston, TX, you'd better believe they're testing ways to use it against you.
Here are three AI "monsters" you should be watching out for.
Doppelgängers in Your Zoom Meetings — Deepfakes Are Here
Deepfakes are getting creepily accurate. Hackers are now using AI to impersonate your leadership team on video calls.
Case in point: a cryptocurrency employee recently joined a Zoom with what looked like senior leadership. They told him to download a "Zoom extension" that turned out to be malware and the hackers walked right in.
Red flags to look for: odd lighting, strange pauses, facial glitches, or anyone asking you to install something mid-meeting.
This is where cybersecurity services and IT support earn their stripes. Your people need training to spot deepfake red flags, and your systems need network security services to block the attacks that sneak past.
For Houston businesses handling sensitive information — from legal client files to manufacturing trade secrets to oil & gas operational data — deepfake attacks pose serious risks to confidential communications.
Creepy Crawlies in Your Inbox — AI-Powered Phishing
Phishing emails aren't new, but AI is making them scarier.
Forget the bad grammar and broken English. With AI, attackers can write perfect emails in seconds and even translate them into multiple languages to scale their attacks.
The good news? The old defenses still work if you use them:
- Require MFA (multifactor authentication) through managed Office 365 services across all accounts
- Keep employees trained with ongoing security awareness refreshers through help desk services
- Partner with managed IT services or co-managed IT services to monitor for suspicious logins
Phishing works because it preys on people, not firewalls. That's why training is just as critical as tech — especially for Houston accounting practices and legal firms that are frequent targets due to their access to valuable financial and personal data.
Skeleton AI Tools — Malware in Disguise
Hackers are taking advantage of the AI craze by offering "fake" AI tools that are really just malware in costume.
We've seen TikTok accounts pushing cracked AI software downloads that looked legit — until they infected machines with malicious code.
The fix? Don't let your team download shiny new AI tools without vetting. Your managed IT support partner or help desk services can test software safely and make sure it's clean before it hits your systems.
This is especially important for manufacturing companies and oil & gas operations where a single infected machine could disrupt critical operations or compromise sensitive operational data.
Comprehensive AI Security Strategy
Beyond watching for these specific threats, Houston businesses need:
- Remote IT support to monitor systems 24/7 for AI-powered attacks
- Data backup and recovery services to protect against AI-enhanced ransomware
- Cloud services with advanced security features that can detect AI-generated threats
- VoIP services with secure communication protocols to prevent deepfake infiltration
- IT compliance services to ensure AI usage meets industry standards:
- Data security compliance for legal firms
- Financial data protection standards for accounting practices
- Cybersecurity standards for manufacturing and oil & gas operations
Ready to Chase the AI Ghosts Out of Your Business?
AI threats don't mean you need to throw away the technology — it just means you need to be smart about how you use it.
With the right cybersecurity services, data backup and recovery services, cloud services, and IT compliance services, you can use AI to boost your Houston business instead of letting attackers use it against you.
Whether you need full managed IT services or co-managed IT services to work with your existing team, protecting against AI-powered threats requires a comprehensive approach that covers technology, training, and monitoring.
We'll walk through your defenses, uncover weak spots, and show you how to keep the scary side of AI out of your workplace.
Call us at 713-690-9911 or Schedule your FREE Discovery Call today.
Because when it comes to AI security, the scariest thing is being unprepared.
