A new Europol report[pdf] sheds light on the way emerging technology is shaping the cyber crime economy as well as law enforcement efforts to fight cyber crime.

The research states that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) can vastly improve the success of cyber attacks and make it easier for threat actors to launch sophisticated campaigns. One worrying example is the use of AI-manipulated images known as deepfakes to spread disinformation and manipulate victims. Europol warns that “criminals are already reported to have used deepfake audio impersonating chief executives in an attempt to defraud organisations”.

Other emerging technologies that have the potential to become game changers are quantum computing, 5G and the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT).

Read more: AI, quantum computing and 5G could make criminals more dangerous than ever, warn police

Special Series on Quantum Computing

The developments in the field of Quantum Computing are coming faster and faster. OODA analysts are focusing on what matters most to today’s business decision makers. Recent reporting includes:

• The Executive’s Guide To Quantum Computing: What business decision-makers need to know now about quantum superiority
• Is Quantum Computing Ushering in an Era of No More Secrets?: Context from OODA’s Matt Devost on the very near future of quantum computing.
• What To Do About Quantum Uncertainty: Guess what, besides uncertainty at a quantum level there is great uncertainty among business and policy makers regarding Quantum Computing.
• Intel offers AI breakthrough in quantum computing: This article is more about quantum simulations for AI, but shows the ecosystem that is developing around the technology
• Quantum Computing That Can Crack Modern Encryption More Than a Decade Away: When we see reports like this we wonder what qualifies the experts to say this. But in this case the experts are the National Academies of Sciences.
• Could quantum computers render current bitcoin and most blockchain cryptography powerless?: There is a worry that new algorithms that could run on quantum computing could attack blockchain and asymmetric encryption.