6 essential strategies to defend against AI-powered threat actors in 2026
Just_Super/iStock/Getty Images Plus Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways The more powerful AI gets, the more threat actors will harness it to attack. Organizations and individuals must match their adversaries’ tenacity. Experts recommend best practices for avoiding catastrophe. When was the last time you wondered if that mysterious phone caller who hung up after you answered “hello” made a recording of your voice in a way that could be used against you? The FCC warned us about such scams nearly a decade ago, before artificial intelligence was even on the scene. Now — with AI cloning your voice and conversational tone from as little as three seconds of audio — the stakes are much higher. Whether used for legitimate or nefarious purposes, AI’s chief selling proposition has been its knack for speed and scale. In the hands of a threat actor, a lot of damage can be done in the blink of an eye. And it’s getting worse. Your only meaningful response is to match your adversaries’ tenacity. In this article, we’ll …
