Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way we work—from drafting documents to streamlining patient scheduling to crunching financial data. But here’s the catch: the same AI tools that help your team can also be used by attackers looking to trick, scam, or steal from your business.
For small businesses in healthcare, finance, and law, that means AI isn’t just an opportunity—it’s a new layer of risk. Here are the AI “monsters” worth watching, and the practical defenses that keep them from haunting your operations.
1. Doppelgängers in Your Video Chats: The Rise of Deepfakes
AI-generated “deepfakes” can now mimic voices and faces with eerie accuracy. Criminals are already using them in social engineering attacks.
One case involved a Zoom call where employees thought they were speaking with company executives—but they were really interacting with AI-generated deepfakes. The “leaders” tricked them into downloading malware, opening the door for a cyberattack.
🔎 What to watch for: odd facial glitches, unusual pauses, or inconsistent lighting.
🛡 How to protect yourself: verify unusual requests outside of video chat, and set internal policies for confirming high-risk approvals.
2. Phishing Gets Smarter: AI-Generated Emails
For years, you could spot phishing emails by clunky grammar or awkward spelling. Not anymore. With AI, attackers can craft flawless, personalized emails that look like they came from a colleague, client, or even your bank.
And they’re scaling their attacks by using AI translation to run multilingual phishing campaigns.
🔎 What to watch for: messages that create urgency (“respond now,” “your account will be locked”), unexpected links, or attachments you weren’t expecting.
🛡 How to protect yourself: enforce multifactor authentication (MFA), provide regular security awareness training, and remind staff to slow down before clicking.
3. Fake AI Tools: Malware in Disguise
Attackers know that businesses are curious about new AI tools—and they exploit that curiosity. Malicious “AI software” downloads often contain just enough legitimate code to look real but are really packed with malware.
A recent scam promoted cracked “ChatGPT” software on TikTok. Users who installed it thought they were bypassing licensing fees—but instead downloaded a hidden malware package.
🔎 What to watch for: free AI tools from sketchy websites, or offers that sound “too good to be true.”
🛡 How to protect yourself: ask your MSP (Managed Service Provider) to vet any new AI tools before staff download them.
AI Doesn’t Have to Be Scary
Yes, AI is changing the threat landscape—but with the right precautions, it doesn’t need to keep you up at night. For small businesses in Carmel and Indianapolis, especially those handling HIPAA-protected health records, sensitive financial data, or client-privileged case files, the solution isn’t panic—it’s preparation.
👉 Schedule a free discovery call today and let’s talk through how to keep your firm ahead of AI-driven threats—before they turn into costly downtime, fines, or lost client trust.
