Are AI Voice Clones Stealing Personal Information Online?
AI voice clones that can trick family and break into bank accounts are already a threat, experts have warned. Cyber thieves are increasingly scouring for clips of people’s voices on social media to mimic them in potentially devastating scams.
AI Voice Clones: A Growing Cyber Threat
Easy AI tools make it super simple for fraudsters to rip off a person’s voice with little technical knowledge. One of the easiest places for them to look for audio of you speaking is on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
How AI Voice Clones Can Deceive
“AI-generated voices are already a threat to personal identity in at least two contexts,” Dr Lo, a lecturer in security and protection science at Lancaster University, told Central Recorder. “First, the voice can be used to breach speaker verification software in order to gain access to systems such as bank accounts. Second, the AI-generated voice can be used to deceive other human listeners.”
Protecting Yourself from AI Voice Clones
Some sites claim they only need as little as ten seconds of audio from a person to pull off the vicious stunt. Dr Luca Arnaboldi, a cybersecurity professor at the University of Birmingham, emphasized the importance of safeguarding personal data and urged social network sites to take responsibility.
How to Detect AI Voice Clones
AI voice clones may be getting smarter, but they have limitations. Fraudsters may display irregular, delayed speech and create urgency to prompt quick decisions. Establishing a safe word with family members can help verify authenticity.
Impersonation Risks and Identity Verification
Dr Lo highlighted the need for caution in sharing personal information on social media, given the vulnerability of voices to impersonation. Relying solely on voice verification for identity confirmation may pose risks.
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