Deepfake prices skyrocket to $20,000 per minute

The announcement was made during the Kaspersky Cyber Security Weekend – META 2023.

These deepfake creation tools and services, found on underground marketplaces, pose a significant threat to individuals and organizations.

Kaspersky experts conducted an analysis of various darknet marketplaces and underground forums that offer deepfake video and audio creation for malicious purposes. The prices for these services vary depending on the complexity and quality, ranging from $300 to the eye-popping $20,000 per minute of deepfake video.

Cybercriminals are utilizing generative AI technology to create fake videos or images for fraudulent activities. They exploit deepfakes to defraud individuals, deceive organizations, and manipulate public opinion. For instance, a fake video of a CEO requesting unauthorized payments can be used to siphon corporate funds, while compromising videos or images can be employed for extortion. Deepfakes also pose a significant risk to payment services, enabling cybercriminals to bypass verification processes and gain unauthorized access to accounts and funds.

Recent incidents involving voice deepfakes have resulted in serious financial losses, such as a British energy firm's CEO falling victim to a voice deepfake requesting an emergency transfer of funds, leading to a loss of $243,000.

Kaspersky's ongoing monitoring of the Dark web enables researchers to gain valuable insights into the deepfake industry and track the activities of threat actors. By staying ahead of the evolving threat landscape, organizations can proactively protect themselves against deepfake-related threats.