The article also highlights the role of GenAI in these attacks, as it allows for the creation of unique images with little effort, making the generation of explicit content simpler. The author suggests that the best defense against these attacks is awareness and education, including training for CEOs and their families on how to detect and report such attacks. Other recommended defenses include using strong passwords, multifactor authentication, not clicking on suspicious email links or attachments, and implementing a strong security awareness training program.
Key takeaways:
- Sextortion attacks, which involve blackmailing with sexually motivated content, have increased by 178% between H1 2022 and H1 2023, ranking third among all email threats.
- These attacks have evolved and are now often the root cause of harm when investigating compromised environments, with initial compromises going undetected for months or even years.
- The availability of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to the public has made these attacks more widespread and convincing, with the technology being used to create unique images for blackmail.
- It's crucial for company executives to be aware of these threats and have a strong executive protection program in place, which includes awareness training, technical defenses, and clear processes for detection and remediation.