Disinformation security FAQ: What business leaders should know

This article originally appeared on the Stratosphere Networks website.

Thanks to the internet and other advanced technologies, we live in a golden age of information availability. Most of us can quickly answer any questions we have in minutes by turning to a computer or smartphone and querying a search engine.

However, it’s just as easy for bad actors to spread fraudulent stories online. Generative artificial intelligence (genAI) and machine learning have fueled disinformation campaigns – focused efforts meant to confuse, mislead or deceive, according to the Gartner article “Protect Your Organization From Disinformation Campaigns.”

“Already a top global threat, disinformation campaigns have the potential to go viral on social media and lead to direct corporate losses from fraud, boycotts and reputational damage,” Dan Ayoub, a senior director analyst in the Gartner Emerging Technologies and Trends (ETT) Security division, wrote in the September 2024 article.

Subsequently, Gartner named disinformation security as one of its Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2025. In 2024, 5 percent of enterprises had adopted solutions, services or features to address disinformation security use cases; Gartner projects that figure will rise to 50 percent by 2028.

If you’re an IT or business leader wondering how to tackle disinformation security, here are the answers to some essential questions you might have about the concept. ???????????

1. What is disinformation security?

Disinformation security involves creating systems to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of information while combating impersonation and monitoring the dissemination of harmful material, according to Gartner. Ayoub warned in his article that disinformation campaigns can spread via social media and damage your organization’s reputation. There are a number of reasons why bad actors might perpetuate a disinformation campaign against your company:

• Disrupting operations
• Stealing sensitive information
• Polarizing a particular group of people

2. What methods do bad actors use to spread disinformation?

Malicious individuals can employ various strategies to propagate false information. Here are some common tactics and tools utilized in disinformation campaigns, according to Gartner and Splunk.

• Deepfakes (a.k.a., genuine-seeming video and audio clips)
• Cheapfakes (real video and audio clips altered or taken out of context)
• Phishing messages
• Proxy websites (fake sites that imitate legitimate ones to trick visitors)

Disinformation campaigns involve playing on people’s psychological vulnerabilities, biases, confidential knowledge and critical thinking abilities to impersonate individuals known to the targets, cause disruption, influence behavior and/or steal private information, according to Splunk. They overlap to a degree with cyberattacks, which are digital and involve hacking into computer infrastructure.

3. How should business leaders address disinformation security?

Disinformation campaigns targeting enterprises are expected to become more frequent as AI and machine learning tools evolve, so it’s essential to proactively protect your organization. Gartner lists the following as the essential elements of disinformation security:

• Detecting deepfakes
• Preventing impersonation
• Protecting your organization’s reputation

You can deploy various solutions to achieve these objectives, such as the following, according to Splunk:

• Digital forensic analysis tools
• Identity verification systems
• Phishing detection
• Bot protection solutions
• Disinformation awareness training for your staff (e.g., instruction on how to spot phishing messages)

Our trusted technology advisors are here to help if you want to explore cybersecurity solutions and services for your business. With over 20 years of IT experience and our background as a former managed security service provider (MSSP), we can advise you on your security strategy and efficiently identify best-in-class offerings that meet your organization’s unique needs and minimize your risk level. ?Start by calling 877-599-3999 or emailing [email protected].

Kevin Rubin is the president and CIO of Stratosphere Networks, which helps businesses bypass the traditional sales process and quickly find leading Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS), customer experience (CX), digital transformation, business process outsourcing (BPO), managed IT and cybersecurity solutions. Leveraging advanced tools and in-depth knowledge of the technology landscape, our team identifies products and services that position our clients for lasting success. Visit www.stratospherenetworks.com for more information.