Conclusion

Using DeepFake videos and the other "deep" approaches, malicious actors aim to manipulate the truth or sway a target group or user into taking an action outside the bounds of their normal activity or thinking. The more accurate and realistic a fake appears to be, the more likely it is to be accepted as "truth." With the spread and scale that is offered via online means, and in combination with social media avenues to help spread the disinformation, almost any message could be shared and placed into the target audience's decision-making process.

Nation states and threat actors are intimately aware of this capability and the power that resides therein. It is a guarantee that in the very near future, the use of these types of approaches to "hacking reality" will take place.

It is no longer necessary for a government threat actor to use a piece of malware or targeted technical exploit to achieve an impact on a potential target....