By Doug King
Director of Cyber and Information Security Officer
Interested in having the voice of actor Morgan Freeman as your voicemail message? Through an online tool, you can do that!
Seems fun and harmless, right?
Now imagine a voicemail from your CEO. She’s asking you to immediately share sensitive financial information that she needs urgently. Or perhaps she’s asking for your credentials so she can gather confidential information your Board of Directors needs to review right away.
The same technology that can turn Morgan Freeman’s voice into your own message can also be used by nefarious actors who are using it to do harm to you or your company.
As we look at cybersecurity trends for 2024, there isn’t anyone who believes this is going to be a boring year.
As geopolitical tensions ramp up, the dangers only increase as countries such as Russia, China and Iran increase cyberwarfare aimed at American interests.
We are now seeing cyberattacks where hackers target utilities not only for financial gain. Their new goal is to inflict serious harm to U.S. infrastructure, which includes electric cooperatives.
In 2024, we expect to see an increase in incidents that were once considered off-limits—such as the electric grid, other critical utility infrastructure, and data.
This year, we expect utilities to end up in a vice between everything happening outside our borders and the message our adversaries want to send to the United States. Utilities are especially vulnerable in this environment.
We expect to see a spike in artificial intelligence-driven attacks. From a spear-phishing standpoint, you’re going to see an increase in the volume and sophistication of these attacks.
While the game hasn’t changed, the tools used by bad actors have become more dangerous. We’re going to see manipulated video, audio, pictures, and voices that will only increase the danger of an attacker penetrating an electric cooperative. Many of these new tools can be used at little or no cost, and they require very little skill in terms of coding.
It’s all about trying to get employees at organizations to do things they normally wouldn’t do—usually in a hasty manner—and utility members are just as vulnerable to cyberattacks.
So, the next time you hear the voice of Morgan Freeman—or your CEO—don’t assume it’s real. In 2024, we all need to stay hypervigilant against the use of AI to infiltrate our systems, our employees, and our members.
At BrilliT, we simulate potential attacks and create defenses to protect electric cooperatives and your members.
We specialize in cybersecurity solutions tailored to the unique needs of electric cooperatives. We understand the evolving threat landscape and are dedicated to helping cooperatives navigate the challenges it presents. Cybersecurity is not an option; it's a necessity in the digital age. Prioritizing and investing in cybersecurity will protect our nation’s critical infrastructure and pave the way for a more secure, reliable, and resilient future.
BrilliT is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative and was created to help co-ops tackle the cybersecurity and IT challenges of today's constantly evolving digital world.
About the Author
Doug King leads BrilliT with 20 years of experience in the energy industry. He has created security technology patents, provided security services for organizations ranging from 20 to 25,000 employees, and led response teams during ransomeware and compromise attacks.
