CyberGuard dictionary / AI Security
Deepfake
A deepfake is synthetic or altered audio, video, or imagery made to depict a person saying or doing something they did not actually say or do.
In simple terms
AI tools can imitate a face or voice. The result can be used for entertainment, but it can also impersonate a trusted person in a scam.
Technical explanation
Generation and editing methods can create plausible media from limited source material. Provenance, independent callback procedures, and transaction controls are more dependable than judging authenticity from appearance alone.
Synthetic audio or video can imitate a trusted person well enough to support impersonation. Independent callback and dual approval procedures protect decisions better than visual or voice judgment alone.
Examples in practice
A caller sounding like a company executive asks finance staff to urgently change the bank account for a supplier payment.
A finance clerk receives a convincing voice message from an apparent executive requesting an urgent transfer. The clerk calls the executive through a saved number and confirms the message was fabricated.
Why it matters
A familiar voice or image should not by itself authorize a sensitive transaction.
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Sources and further reading
Published 2026-10-15 · Last updated 2026-10-15 · CyberGuard editorial content. Source links provide context; they do not imply endorsement.