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A New AI Giant Stumbles Out of the Gate: DeepSeek’s Security Breach Raises Alarms

A New AI Giant Stumbles Out of the Gate: DeepSeek’s Security Breach Raises Alarms

As AI technology becomes cheaper and more accessible, even non-tech businesses are exposed to its security vulnerabilities.

Even if you don’t follow all the ins and outs of AI, it’d be almost impossible to not hear something about DeepSeek, the disruptive Chinese AI model roiling Silicon Valley. The company recently released an AI-powered chatbot that has quickly become the most popular app on the the major stores. DeepSeek, however, doesn’t actually offer much beyond what established models like ChatGPT or Claude already provide. What’s shaking the tech world is that DeepSeek claims to have trained its model at just one-50th the cost of competitors (though some are questioning this) and is offering it to the world as an open source technology.

The key takeaway is that the bar to entry for building AI models and applying them to different use cases has dropped significantly. AI-powered technologies are sure to become more ubiquitous, bringing both opportunities and risks. Indeed, during its first major release just this week, DeepSeek inadvertently exposed a publicly accessible database containing over a million sensitive records, including user data, chat histories, API keys, and system logs. This incident highlights not only the privacy risks but also critical vulnerabilities in AI systems themselves. And it’s just the tip of the iceberg regarding AI-related security threats.

As AI adoption increases, it’s not just businesses benefiting; cybercriminals are also. AI-powered attacks, such as highly personalized phishing scams and deepfake-driven social engineering, are becoming more common and more dangerous. In this blog, we’ll explore key strategies businesses of all sizes can implement to protect themselves.

Staying safe in a world of ubiquitous AI

Small businesses can protect themselves by staying ahead of these threats through proactive measures. Here’s how, with support from Upfort, you can stay secure in this evolving landscape.

1. Train your employees to recognize AI-driven threats: Cyberattacks using AI often exploit human weaknesses, such as trust and urgency. Regular training is essential to help employees stay alert and recognize these sophisticated tactics. Upfort’s Cyber University program offers expert-led, on-demand training to ensure your team is updated on threats like deepfake scams, AI-enhanced phishing, and data leaks.

2. Defend against AI-powered social engineering: AI-generated scams are becoming harder to detect. Alongside employee training, proven tools like Inbox Defender can scan and proactively flag incoming emails for scams and impersonation attempts.

3. Double down on cyber hygiene and preparedness: With the growing threat of AI-fueled attacks, maintaining strong cyber hygiene practices is more crucial than ever. Want to make sure you’re ready, take our interactive small business cyber checklist or run a free business domain scan. Implement the following precautions to minimize risk:

  • Regular software updates: Ensure your network infrastructure—routers, switches, and firewalls—stays updated with the latest patches and firmware.

  • Robust access controls: Enforce role-based access and multi-factor authentication to limit privileges and prevent unauthorized access.

  • Regular backups: Frequently back up network configurations and critical data so you can quickly recover from an attack or system failure.

As cyber criminals increasingly leverage AI to scale attacks, businesses must adopt advanced, adaptable security strategies. With Upfort, you can proactively safeguard your operations and stay ahead in this AI-powered world.

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