AI is Creeping Into Everything, Even Cybercrime. Here’s What Atlanta Businesses Need to Watch For.

Artificial intelligence has brought us some amazing tools, from faster workflows to smarter business insights. But here’s the flip side: cybercriminals are using those same tools, too.

If you’ve been hearing the buzz about deepfakes, AI-generated phishing scams, or sketchy tools pretending to be helpful software… you’re not imagining things. These aren’t sci-fi scenarios, they’re happening right now to businesses across the country. And that includes right here in Metro Atlanta.

So let’s pull back the curtain on what’s really worth watching, and how to stay a step ahead.

🎭 Deepfakes in Zoom Calls? It’s Not Just a Movie Plot Anymore

There was a real case recently where an employee joined a video meeting and unknowingly spoke with deepfake versions of their senior leadership. The AI-generated imposters asked the employee to install a “Zoom extension”, which turned out to be a doorway for hackers.

In today’s remote and hybrid workplaces, that’s a wake-up call.

Atlanta Tip: If you’re on video calls often (and who isn’t?), learn to spot the red flags: odd lighting, facial glitches, long pauses, or sudden requests to install something. Always confirm unusual asks by phone or text with a known number.

📧 Phishing Emails, Upgraded with AI

You know those scam emails full of typos and awkward language? Yeah, the bad guys have cleaned those up, thanks to AI.

Attackers can now write near-perfect emails, clone websites in multiple languages, and even tailor their messages to sound local. That makes scams a whole lot harder to spot.

Atlanta Tip: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is your best friend here. Even if someone falls for a fake login page, MFA makes it 10x harder for attackers to break in. Pair that with regular, down-to-earth security training, and you’re building real resilience.

🛑 Fake “AI Tools” That Are Actually Malware

Not all AI tools are what they claim to be. Some are just bait, malware in disguise. And the more buzz AI gets, the more scammers are using fake apps and “cracked software” downloads to spread infections.

Atlanta Tip: If a tool isn’t coming from a known, vetted source, don’t download it. Better yet, ask your IT provider (hi, that’s us) to review any new tool before you bring it into your workflow.

Here’s the Bottom Line

You don’t need to be scared of AI. But you do need to be smart about it.

At CMIT Solutions of Atlanta, we help growing businesses like yours sort the useful from the dangerous, and build cyber-smart cultures that protect your data, your clients, and your team.

💻 Book a free discovery call today and let’s make sure your workplace stays sharp, secure, and future-ready.