Strategic Membership Solutions flags new threat to associations of AI-powered cyberattacks

Strategic Membership Solutions, an organisation providing strategic planning, sponsorship, and membership support for associations, has flagged a new threat - AI-powered cyberattacks.

With this month being Cyber Security Awareness month, Belinda Moore from Strategic Membership Solutions notes it is the perfect time for associations to get across this and offers the following information.

AI-powered cyberattacks aren’t your run-of-the-mill phishing attempts. Hackers are using AI to create smarter, more sophisticated attacks that adapt in real-time. Imagine a system that learns from your association’s behaviour, bypassing defences and attacking when you’re most vulnerable—whether it’s post-conference chaos or during a routine system update.

AI: The Hacker’s Secret Weapon
AI doesn’t just help your association streamline processes; it also enables cybercriminals to dig deep into your systems, identifying weak spots. Worse, these attacks can evolve and change as they learn, making them nearly impossible to predict or stop.

Data Poisoning: When AI Works Against You
Think your data is safe? Hackers can corrupt it, feeding your AI false information. Decisions made on poisoned data could lead to flawed strategies, wrong decisions, and a serious loss of trust.

Deepfakes: Don’t Believe Your Eyes
We’re in the age of video calls, but what if that face on the screen isn’t real? Deepfakes, AI-generated videos, can impersonate anyone - even your CEO - leading to fraudulent decisions or approvals that can cost your association big time.

Predictive Threats: Attacks You Can’t See Coming
AI allows cybercriminals to predict your vulnerabilities, striking when you’re least prepared. These attacks are smarter, faster, and more targeted than ever before.

AI-Malware: Self-Learning Destruction
Old-school viruses had nothing on this. AI-powered malware learns as it spreads, adapting to security measures, becoming harder to detect and even harder to eliminate. This type of malware can wreak havoc before you even realise something’s wrong.

Credential Stuffing: Hacking on Autopilot
Hackers use AI to quickly test stolen passwords across multiple systems, automating attacks on a massive scale. If your members or staff reuse passwords (and let’s face it, they do), credential stuffing could lead to unauthorised access across numerous platforms.

What’s Can You Do?
Belinda Moore advises the risks have evolved but questions whether associations’ insurance has and notes that “if you haven’t reviewed your cyber coverage lately, now’s the time to call KBI Insurance.”

Strategic Membership Solutions has partnered with KBI because they believe they’re the best fit for the association sector. Also, Answers for Associations gets a commission, which helps fund the free services they provide for associations.

Moore adds “KBI know associations and offer tailored cover at competitive rates - and they specialise in cyber. Whether it's making sure you're secure against those AI-fuelled cyber nasties or just giving your policies a fresh look, they can help.

“The last thing you want is to explain to your board that a deepfake video scammed your association’s funds and it's not covered in your insurance policy - so take a few minutes to ensure you are covered just in case.”

Click here for a quote or to schedule a call closer to your renewal date.

Image. Credit: KBI Insurance