Darktrace PLC (LSE:DARK) shares jumped 16% on Thursday after the cybersecurity expert's profits beat market consensus by 22%.
The surge in earnings came after the firm revealed more of its customers were being presented with AI phishing scams.
In the last three months of 2023, phishing scams rose by 35% across its customer base, and boss Poppy Gustaffson warned AI was lowering “the barrier to entry for hostile actors”.
Why it’s getting worse
Phishing is a type of online scam where attackers send a target a message online posing as a legitimate person or organisation.
These messages often contain a link to a fake website, made to look like that of the organisation, aimed at obtaining the target’s details such as passwords, addresses and bank details.
Phishing scams can often be spotted if the email address is unusual or is from an unknown sender.
Phishing scam Source: Investopedia
Users should also check for if the web addresses are spelt wrong and whether messages immediately ask for passwords or private details.
However, with AI capabilities constantly improving, the UK’s cybersecurity agency believes it will become harder to spot these scams.
The National Cyber Security Centre predicts that by 2025 “generative AI and large language models will make it difficult for everyone, regardless of their level of cybersecurity understanding.”
No longer are scammers relying on emails and texts, but with AI they have been able to improve the traps by replicating the voices of loved ones and creating multiple fake accounts on social media.
Now there are even more pic.twitter.com/psh2NVYhtL
— ZachXBT (@zachxbt) March 7, 2024