Perry Carpenter, Chief Human Risk Management Strategist at KnowBe4, a leading security awareness and behavior change platform, has raised concerns about the increasing sophistication of deepfake technology used by cybercriminals.
Speaking about his recent experience testing a platform designed to mask deepfake imperfections, Carpenter highlighted the adaptive strategies attackers employ to evade detection.
“I was recently testing a platform with a feature that freezes a video on the last good deepfake frame to hide artifacts, glitches, or syncing issues, effectively protecting the identity of the person behind the deepfake,” Carpenter explained. He noted that such advancements make it more challenging to identify technical flaws in deepfakes, rendering traditional detection methods less reliable.
Instead of focusing on fleeting technical glitches, Carpenter advocates for training that emphasizes behavioral cues and contextual inconsistencies.
“We need to focus on tells like heightened emotion used to provoke a response, or inconsistencies in the context of the communication,” he said. This approach, he argues, prevents a false sense of security that can arise from relying solely on spotting technical errors.
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Carpenter also pointed to common red flags in fraudulent communications, such as requests to wire large sums of money without verification.
“There should almost never be an immediate need to transfer significant funds without confirming through a known internal channel,” he stressed. He flagged private phone or email communications, especially when the sender resists using secure company systems, as suspicious. Tactics like urgency, authority, or emotional manipulation are also warning signs.
“It’s critical that people give themselves permission to pause and verify,” Carpenter urged, emphasizing the importance of skepticism and due diligence in combating sophisticated deepfake scams. As cybercriminals continue to refine their tactics, KnowBe4 is doubling down on its training programs, equipping organizations to recognize and respond to these evolving threats.
