Social engineering. Modern-day words to describe the blatant bold advancement of evil. The workings within the darkness of mind and spirit of a godless people having been given over to their reprobate, wicked, unrighteous minds.
Technology in hand with how easily people are misled and they will believe what their ears hear and their eyes see, even if utter rubbish and a total lie are the same who refuse faith in God, in Christ, in the Holy Spirit, and in the whole of the Holy Bible. Yet they will gravitate to and accept, adopt, and accommodate every lie coming towards them. Entering them.
Presently we cannot trust or believe what we see or hear that is put forward from anything on television, film, the news, or online. Presently the manipulation and creation of utterly false visuals and speech are possible. And occurring. This is only the beginning. It is going to become worse. Much worse. Much more difficult to discern reality from the lies created by evil men and women using the technologies available to them and being further refined and developed daily.
Do not become like some listening to their radios in 1938, or receiving information through third, and fourth parties who only heard a snippet and reacted with fear and were not strong enough, or taking time to discern well and wisely.
This is not a time in history to fear my friends. This is not a time to panic, doubt, or allow fear to command the heart and mind. No matter what these times may reveal. Not to those who profess to believe in God, in Jesus as Lord, in the Holy Spirit, and in all within the Word of God. If lacking Bible literacy, Bible fluency, Bible wisdom, understanding, and discernment now is the time to turn to God and humbly, faithfully ask for such. Which is greater than all the material riches of this passing world.
This is not a time to be led by entertainment, unsound doctrines, individuals with personal gain or to manipulate and control the overwhelming majority of people with their evil intent. Do not shrug or dismiss things as being evil or what the true intent of the lie behind the facade is.
To do so is how the overwhelming majority, all of those except the remnant of true believers will react and thusly take the mark of the beast in their flesh condemning them to hell for eternity.
Do not fear.
The times are going to become worse. Much worse. If wavering, faltering, falling from fear now what will you do when more and more of the inerrant infallible prophecy within God’s Word is revealed?
We live in such end times, such times of technological advancements in conjunction with an ever-increasing evil that everything, EVERYTHING, except that which is contained in the Holy Bible must be questioned.
In order to discern wisely and well.
Everything, EVERYTHING from Satan and all of his ministers, minions, and enslaved is lies. There is no truth in him or them. Do not be like Adam and Eve in the Garden falling prey to the seductive, cunning, beguiling serpent.
Follow the instruction from the Lord Jesus Christ as He addressed His disciples, of which you either are, or are not, and there is no other kind of individual on earth;
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
Matthew 10:16
They are called Deepfakes. A fraud. Lies. Deceptions.
Do not be among the deceived. Discern all things wisely and well. And that is not accomplished solo, or by listening to friends, relatives, the news, or co-workers. That is only possible through faith and obedience to God and faithfully asking the Holy Spirit to provide that which is impossible for any individual to comprehend or discern on their own.
Such things, and many others are going to occur that many will fall away. The Bible tells us unless God shortens the days the faith of many would fall and fail. For the eye, the ear falls prey so easily to the lie does it not, convinced what it is hearing, and seeing is real and true.
Such are the warfare tactics and techniques used in this escalating spiritual war every person is enjoined in.
Count it all joy, my brothers [and sisters], when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:2-8
Be patient, therefore, brothers [and sisters], until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
James 5:7-12
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…
Ephesians 6:10-18a
Read on…
Ken Pullen, A CROOKED PATH, Monday, August 7th, 2023
Pandora’s Box Is Already Open – Deepfake Lies Could Social Engineer The World
Deepfake Fraud Surges More Than 1000%, Insiders Say It’s Just The Beginning
August 4, 2023
Reprinted from Activist Post & Prophecy News Watch
TOPICS:
As the line between fact and fiction gets harder to distinguish, online criminals need just two hours to create a realistic, computer-generated “deepfake” product that can ruin someone’s life.
The surge in popularity of hyper-realistic photos, audio, and videos developed with artificial intelligence (AI)—commonly known as deepfakes—has become an internet sensation.
It’s also giving cyber villains an edge in the crime world.
Between 2022 and the first quarter of this year, deepfake use in fraud catapulted 1,200 percent in the United States alone.
Though it’s not just an American problem.
In the same analysis, deepfakes used for scam purposes exploded in Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In the study, the United States accounted for 4.3 percent of global deepfake fraud cases.
Meanwhile, AI experts and cybercrime investigators say we’re just at the tip of the iceberg. The rabbit hole of deepfake fraud potential just keeps going.
“I believe the No. 1 incentive for cyber criminals to commit cybercrime is law enforcement and their inability to keep up,” Michael Roberts told The Epoch Times.
Mr. Roberts is a professional investigator and the founder of the pioneer company Rexxfield, which helps victims of web-based attacks.
He also started PICDO, a cyber crime disruption organization, and has run counter-hacking education for branches of the U.S. and Australian militaries as well as NATO.
Mr. Roberts said legal systems in the Western world are “hopelessly overwhelmed” by online fraud cases, many of which include deepfake attacks. Moreover, the cases that get investigated without hiring a private firm are cherry-picked.
“And even then, it [the case] doesn’t get resolved,” he said.
The market for deepfake detection was valued at $3.86 billion dollars in 2020 and is expected to grow 42 percent annually through 2026, according to an HSRC report.
Sleight of Hand
Imagine getting a phone call from a loved one, tearfully claiming they’ve been kidnapped. Naturally, the abductors want money and the voice of your family member proceeds to give instructions on how to deliver the ransom.
You may be convinced it’s the voice of your beloved on the other end, but there’s a chance it’s not.
Deepfake audio or “voice cloning” scams have spread like wildfire across the United States this year, blindsiding compassionate, unprepared individuals in multiple states.
But it doesn’t stop there. Deepfake attacks can arrive in many forms. These clever scams can also pop up as video chats with someone you know.
They can appear as the social media post of a long-time colleague, discussing how a cryptocurrency investment allowed them to purchase the beautiful new home they’re excitedly pointing at in a photo.
“We have lots of cryptocurrency scams,” Mr. Roberts said.
Deepfakes are also used for blackmail. It usually involves the creation of a passable video or photo of the victim in a lewd or compromising situation.
Then attackers demand a ransom, lest they distribute the fake to the victim’s coworkers, boss, family, and friends.
Every single one of those examples is already happening.
But to create these realistic fakes, criminals need access to material like photos, audio, and video. Unfortunately, these things aren’t hard to get.
“If someone gets into your private photos, in your iCloud, that gives all the sampling, all the technology … to make hyper-realistic fakes,” Mr. Roberts said.
Social media profiles are a treasure trove for criminals looking to create these products.
Recovering lost assets and the victim’s reputation can be grim. Roberts noted litigation against cyber crimes is an uphill battle. “It’s long, it’s arduous, it’s drawn out, and it’s emotionally and financially taxing.”
Other AI industry insiders say it’s not just the quality of fakes that are a problem but also the quantity.
“Sooner or later, people will be able to generate any combination of pixels of any type of content. And it’s up to you to filter it,” Alan Ikoev told The Epoch Times.
Mr. Ikoev is the CEO of Fame Flow, which creates licensed celebrity and influencer ads.
As a pioneer of authorized AI-generated content involving celebrities, he’s all too familiar with the work of his nefarious counterparts.
But to counter these increasingly sophisticated scams, people need to be suspicious of everything they see online. “If they don’t question, then they’re easily convinced,” Ikoev said.
Discerning what’s real or fake online is already challenging. Eighty-six percent of internet users admitted to being hoodwinked by fake news, according to an Ipsos survey of more than 25,000 participants in 25 countries.
This is compounded by a recent cyber security study, which revealed nearly half of all internet traffic is now generated by bots.
But it’s not all bad news. Mr. Roberts maintains criminals haven’t caught up with how fast technology is moving forward, which is currently outpacing the “bad actors.”
However, vigilance and having a plan are needed to repel or counter deepfake attacks.
Moves And Counter Moves
The rapid advancement of technology in fraud almost evokes nostalgia for the days when internet scams were just an email from a self-proclaimed prince in a foreign land who needed help transferring money.
AI has given cybercriminals better tools, but it can also be used against them.
“The development of advanced deepfake detection tools using AI-driven algorithms is crucial to combat this threat. Collaborative efforts among AI developers, researchers, and tech companies are essential for creating robust security measures and raising awareness,” Nikita Sherbina, CEO of AIScreen, told The Epoch Times.
Mr. Sherbina said businesses can protect themselves by doubling down on tech. Essentially fighting digital fire with fire.
“Implement advanced AI-based authentication systems, including voice and facial recognition with multi-factor authentication. Continuous monitoring and analysis of communication patterns using AI algorithms can also help detect and prevent fraudulent activities,” he said.
But for individuals, disrupting or preventing a deepfake scam is simpler.
In the event of a suspected voice clone attack, Mr. Roberts said, “The first thing you do is say, ‘honey, I’m going to call you right back.’”
He noted that scammers will invent an excuse why you can’t call back to verify their identity. Another trick to derail criminals using cloned audio to fake a kidnapping is to ask the caller questions that aren’t in the public domain.
“Have this conversation with your family before it actually happens so they understand what you’re doing,” Mr. Roberts added.
He stressed the importance of not using individual email addresses with full names or numbers relevant to the user’s date of birth.
Further, a person should never reuse a login password. Mr. Roberts noted the first thing hackers do when they snag a password is try logging into every possible site to see where else it works.
This includes bank accounts, cloud storage, social media, and more.
But while deepfakes have raised the bar high for online scammers, the methods of tracking them down haven’t changed.
“The process doesn’t change. AI is just the content … but the breadcrumbs the criminals left, they’re always the same,” Mr. Ikoev said.
Tracking scammers may be well established, but a clear path for victims to recover lost money is not.
Financial scams from deepfakes can range from $243,000 to $35 million, according to one analysis.
One example was a cryptocurrency hustle using a forged likeness of Elon Musk that reportedly cost U.S. consumers around $2 million over six months.
Perhaps more troubling is that anyone can create them. Mr. Ikoev explained all someone needs to create a deepfake on their smartphone is a graphics card and to watch a few web tutorials.
“Then you’re good to go,” he said.
World of Possibilities
The timing of the upcoming U.S. presidential election in 2024 is precarious, given the surge in deepfake material.
Mr. Roberts said Americans should expect an election race chock full of swindlers wielding an arsenal of deepfakes.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also expressed concern over the technology’s use, stating: “The threat of deepfakes and synthetic media comes not from the technology used to create it, but from people’s natural inclination to believe what they see.”
Yet Pandora’s box is already open.
Earlier this year, videos emerged of U.S. politicians making strikingly out-of-character remarks.
One involved Hillary Clinton endorsing Republican presidential candidate hopeful, Ron DeSantis.
Another depicted President Joe Biden hurtling angry remarks at a transgender person.
According to Mr. Roberts, this is just the beginning.
“It’s going to be used in a lot of political interference,” he said, adding this technology will make the next COVID-level event much worse for the public.
“I’m not talking misinformation as described by the liberal Left. I’m talking about deliberate lies to social engineer the whole world.”
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