What are Online Mask Attacks and How to Effectively Counter Them?
Technological advancements and digital transformation are upgrading many aspects of our daily lives and reshaping industries, however, this innovation also brings undeniable cyber threats. Cybercriminals have become sophisticated with technological progress and employ advanced technologies to fulfill their nefarious activities. Fraudsters get their hands on other’s digital identities and exploit the acquired information to conduct cyber attacks. One of the most threatening cyber attacks is the online mask attack, referring to highly- realistic facial masks used to dodge authentication solutions and trick vulnerable people. Let’s explore the essence of online mask attacks, how they work, and effective strategies to effectively fight against advanced cyber threats.
What are Mask Attacks? A Closer Look
It refers to a deceptive and fraudulent spoofing technique used by cybercriminals to impersonate others. Through phishing, social engineering, or hacking, malicious actors get access to the digital identities of vulnerable people and use facial data to construct highly realistic fabricated masks, making it hard to distinguish between real and fake. These cyber-attacks are evolving at a distressing rate, stressing everyone to stay vigilant and careful. Cybercriminals use online mask attacks to trick vulnerable people into revealing their sensitive information, spreading false information, tormenting the reputational image of victims, or circumventing ID verification solutions to get access to services or privileges. These impersonation attacks appear so legitimate and genuine that even advanced authentication systems fail to recognize them.
Types of Online Mask Attacks You Must Know
Online mask attacks are continuously evolving and malicious actors are discovering new avenues to fulfill their nefarious maneuvers. These facial masks could be either physical or digital masks perfectly resembling genuine users, blurring the boundary line between real and fake. Let’s have a look into a few of these spoofing attacks and explore how they are generated.
3D Masks
These masks are the exact copy of the human face and represent the three-dimensionality of the facial features, appearing highly realistic and legitimate. 3D printing or silicone molding using plastic or other materials is employed to construct masks that perfectly mirror human skin. These masks are sophisticated to the extent that even advanced authentication systems fail to recognize the difference and grant access, as facial features are perfectly forged.
Composite Masks
Composite masks are digitally constructed images that are generated by combining multiple images of genuine individuals. Facial features from multiple resources are combined to generate a new identity. These fake IDs are generated to evade authentication systems and get unauthorized access to services and systems.
Attack with Makeup Masks
These masks are generated by using cosmetic items or synthetic facial models such as rubber noses, fake beards, or mustaches, seeking to gain unauthorized access to digital services. However, these masks are less effective and can be flagged due to low make-up quality or lighting conditions.
Attack with Physical Masks
Physical masks are deceptively created by using silicon, foam latex, cold foam, or gelatin to impersonate victims effectively. These masks seem highly realistic and genuine as facial features are rightly replicated. However, advanced authentication systems integrated with liveness detection can precisely detect these masks.
Attack with Printed Masks
High-resolution images from the resources or high-fidelity images are combined to construct printed masks. These masks are slightly less effective as compared to physical masks as the true essence of facial features is not replicated, however, can effectively circumvent authentication solutions.
How to Stay Ahead of Online Mask Attacks?
Both individuals and businesses can fall victim to the rising threats of cyber attacks, and implementing preventive strategies can mitigate the evil. Individuals are suggested to minimize their digital footprints, don’t overshare their information, secure their digital accounts, and staying updated with the latest cyber security trends. However, businesses are required to adopt relatively different approach for effective mask identification.
Liveness Detection
An advanced security technique integrated into authentication systems that can detect the liveness of claimed identity by identifying whether the person is live or not. Two approaches to liveness detection including active liveness and passiveness detection have varying working mechanisms. These sophisticated techniques flag fabricated or spoofed identities in real time by analyzing micro-expressions or certain movements.
Biometric Matching Accuracy
Combing all biometric identifiers including fingerprint scans, facial features, or voice patterns to authenticate individuals rather than just relying on a single biometric modality for verifications. To mitigate the rising threats of face recognition masks, advanced authentication solutions must combine facial recognition with other biometrics to give authentic results.
Texture Analysis
Advanced texture analysis algorithms are integrated into authentication solutions, which can analyze minute details such as facial texture, micro-expressions, or anomalies. Accurate analysis of such details effortlessly facilitates authentication solutions to differentiate between genuine individuals and fabricated identities.
Final Thoughts
Online mask attack present significant challenges for the digital world and damage the integrity of sensitive information. However, these threats can be mitigated by understanding the nature of these attacks and implementing effective preventive strategies.