Unsupervised Learning

A Conversation with Shiladitya Sircar from BlackBerry on DeepFake Threats

Sep 17, 2024

Shiladitya Sircar, Senior VP of Product Engineering and Data Science at BlackBerry, dives into the chilling world of deepfakes. He discusses how these technologies facilitate identity fraud and amplify cyber threats, including audio impersonations that almost led to scams. The conversation highlights the erosion of trust in digital communications and the urgent need for organizations to educate employees about deepfake detection. Sircar emphasizes the importance of developing laws and collective defense strategies to combat these technological threats.

44:44

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Shiladitya Sircar

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Quick takeaways

Deepfakes are transforming cyber threats by enabling voice cloning and impersonation, which raises significant security and identity compromise concerns.

This technology threatens to erode public trust in institutions and media, necessitating comprehensive strategies for awareness, regulation, and defense against misuse.

Deep dives

Emerging Cyber Threats from Deepfakes

Deepfakes represent a significant evolution in cyber threats, moving beyond traditional phishing and social engineering techniques. Malicious actors are now using deepfake technology to create convincing videos and audios, leading to identity theft and manipulation of public figures. This capability blurs the line between reality and fiction, enabling cyber criminals to impersonate individuals and deceive targets in unprecedented ways. The increase in these attacks raises serious concerns about security, trust, and the authenticity of digital interactions.

Intro

3min

The Threat of Deepfakes: Identity and Trust at Risk

23min

Exploring Zero Knowledge Proofs and Digital Content Authenticity

2min

The Challenges of Authentic Video Communication

7min

Establishing Protocols to Combat Deepfake Threats

3min

Navigating the Deepfake Dilemma

7min

In this conversation, I speak with Shiladitya Sircar, Senior VP of Product Engineering and Data Science at BlackBerry.

We talk about:

The Rise of Deepfakes and Cyber Threats
Innovation Meets Malicious Intent: Deepfakes are not just a tech novelty; they’re a growing threat. From text-based phishing to hyper-realistic fake videos and audio, the landscape of cyber threats is evolving rapidly. Deepfake technology can clone voices, making it easier for cybercriminals to impersonate individuals and bypass security measures.

Understanding Identity Compromise
Voice Cloning Dangers: Our brains are wired to trust familiar voices, making voice cloning particularly insidious. We share a chilling story about a cybercriminal impersonating Ferrari’s CEO. The attacker’s deepfake was so convincing that it almost led to a major scam.

The Impact on Trust
Eroding Trust in Systems: Deepfakes can undermine trust in institutions and systems, much like traditional scams but with a high-tech twist. Beyond individual attacks, deepfakes can manipulate public opinion and even influence elections. Organizations need to train employees to spot deepfakes, and there’s a pressing need for laws that specifically address deepfakes and identity spoofing.

And more

Intro (00:00:00)
Main Cyber Threats from Deepfakes (00:00:56)
Identity Compromise Explained (00:02:47)
Impact of Deepfakes on Trust (00:06:23)
Deepfakes in Attack Chains (00:08:15)
Case Studies of Deepfake Attacks (00:09:41)
Emerging Threat Landscape (00:13:56)
Defending Against Deepfake Attacks (00:15:07)
Regulatory Frameworks Needed (00:16:28)
The Role of Education and Technology (00:18:57)
Future of Content Authenticity (00:20:53)
Legislation and Authenticity Mechanisms (00:22:04)
Real-Time Deepfake Validation (00:23:18)
Government and Industry Partnership (00:24:07)
Media Forensic Research (00:24:23)
Zero Knowledge Proofs (00:25:36)
Content Provenance and Authenticity (00:26:52)
Trust Network Expansion (00:28:00)
Puppeteering Technology (00:29:20)
Stream Authentication Challenges (00:30:21)
Hardware-Level Trust (00:32:00)
Fragmentation in Standards (00:32:29)
Trust in Communication Protocols (00:33:51)
Collaboration for Solutions (00:35:22)
Apple's Unique Position (00:36:47)
Erosion of Trust (00:37:31)
AI Agents for Detection (00:38:11)
Short-term and Long-term Solutions (00:38:45)
Awareness and Education (00:41:23)
Predictions for Deepfake Technology (00:41:48)
Community Action Against Deepfakes (00:43:09)
Learning More About BlackBerry's Work (00:43:29)