AI-Generated YouTube Videos Used By Hackers To Steal Data: All You Need To Know

Produced by: Bhoomika
Designed by: Mohsin

Artificial Intelligence is fast gaining prominence in the mainstream. People are increasingly using AI tools to generate automated images and videos. But a recent incident of hacking via AI-generated videos has created concerns around this technology

AI-generated YouTube videos can steal your data

Some threat actors or those who allegedly work with the Dark Web, are creating AI-generated videos and uploading them on YouTube to lure its viewers into getting hacked

Hacking via AI-generated YouTube videos

As per a report by IT security intelligence company CloudSEK, there has been a 200-300% increase in the number of AI-generated videos that contain links to stealer malware such as Vidar, RedLine, and Raccoon in the description

AI videos by YouTube
hackers

Most of the videos are tutorials on how to download cracked versions of popular software such as Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Autodesk 3ds Max, AutoCAD. Once the viewer watches the video and looks for links to download the said software, they are directed to the description section where the malicious link is pasted

AI-based tutorial videos
on YouTube can hack
computers

Videos of AI-generated humans are difficult to differentiate from the videos of real humans. People often have more trust in a human sending out certain instructions than a machine. The AI hackers are taking advantage of this human psychology and use AI tools to feature humans that promote the 'malware' packaged as a tutorial

YouTube hackers 

Some of the AI-video platforms pointed out in the report are Synthesia and D-ID

Beware of these AI-
generated video platforms! 

The AI malware can steal sensitive information such as bank account numbers, credit card information, passwords and other private data

AI videos can steal bank
account details

The harvested data is then uploaded to the attacker's Command and Control server, providing them with the full authority to misuse the data

Cybertheft using AI tools

In view of the increasing usage of AI tools to generate images such as those depicting snowfall in Delhi, AI-generated ghosts in Old Delhi and AI-generated Indian couples, the concern around information theft using AI tools has deepened

Viral AI-generated images