Until now, if you saw a video of someone saying something or heard your mother’s voice on the phone, you knew it was real. In 2026, that certainty has vanished. Deepfake technology has advanced so much that anyone can be digitally “cloned” with just a few seconds of audio or video footage.
At Altanet Craiova, we’re getting more and more questions about strange phone calls or fake videos. It’s vital to understand that your eyes and ears can be fooled by Artificial Intelligence.
What is Deepfake and how did it become a weapon?
The term comes from "Deep Learning" and "Fake." Basically, AI software studies a person’s face and voice (from Facebook photos or YouTube videos) and learns to imitate them perfectly.
The result? A video where you appear to be saying things you’ve never said, or a voice identical to yours calling the bank to request a loan. This isn’t about Hollywood special effects that cost millions anymore, but about applications that hackers run on an ordinary laptop.
The "Boss" Attack: Vishing with a Cloned Voice
The most dangerous form of attack for companies is voice-based "CEO Fraud." The scenario is as follows:
- The accountant receives a phone call.
- On the other end of the line is the CEO’s voice (identical, with the same tone and accent): “Hi, I’m in a meeting. Please make an urgent payment to the new supplier; I’ll send you the account details on WhatsApp. It’s very urgent.”
- The accountant, recognizing the boss’s voice, makes the payment immediately.
- The money is gone. The real director never called.
How do you tell a fake from the real thing?
Although the technology is advanced, it still leaves traces ("glitches"). Here’s what to look out for:
- Unnatural blinking: In Deepfake video calls, the cloned person blinks rarely or not at all, or their eye movements are jerky.
- Lip-sync: Sometimes, the audio plays a fraction of a second before the lips move, like in poorly dubbed movies.
- Verify via another channel (Golden Rule): If you receive an urgent call asking for money or data, hang up and call the person back using the number saved in your contacts. Or send a confirmation text message. Hackers cannot intercept both channels simultaneously.
To learn more about how to protect yourself and recognize the subtle signs of a fake, check out Kaspersky’s guide on detecting Deepfakes.
Conclusion
In the age of AI, “seeing” no longer means “believing.” Skepticism is your new shield. Agree on a “safety word” with your family and colleagues to use in case of real emergencies, to confirm that it’s really you.
Are you concerned about communication security in your company? Our team can implement verification solutions and security protocols. View our list of IT services and visit our contact page to protect yourself from imposters.
This material is part of Altanet’s educational series on digital security. Want to know what other risks you’re facing this year? See the complete list of cyber threats for 2026.
