In a recent incident, a company based in Hong Kong found itself facing a substantial loss of $26 million. The perpetrators employed tactics similar to the infamous CEO fraud, a scam that affected many businesses worldwide from the 2010s onwards. However, as we enter 2024, fraudulent practices have taken on a new dimension with the use of AI and deepfakes.
CEO fraud remains a pressing concern for company leaders. This deceptive scheme involves criminals impersonating top executives, aiming to manipulate unsuspecting employees, especially those handling financial matters, into making unauthorized bank transfers. The ploy often involves creating a sense of urgency or confidentiality, placing significant pressure on the colleague responsible for the transfers.
In the era of artificial intelligence, CEO fraud could see a resurgence, mainly due to the widespread use of deepfakes. Deepfakes involve the manipulation of video or audio recordings using AI technology, raising concerns about misinformation and misuse. This includes deepfake content featuring individuals saying things they never actually said.
AI and Machine Learning Among Top Cybersecurity Risks
As the world becomes increasingly reliant on artificial intelligence (AI) for various applications, from autonomous vehicles to advanced healthcare systems, the flip side of this technological advancement is the escalating threat landscape in cybersecurity.
Most Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) are bracing themselves for a shift in the threat landscape. In a recent survey conducted for the 2023 Global CISO Survey by Heidrick & Struggles, 58% of security leaders foresee a different set of cyber risks emerging over the next five years. When asked about the most substantial cyber risks, AI and machine learning take the top spot, as indicated by 46% of CISOs surveyed.
Experts anticipate higher levels of cyber risks as AI technology advances and becomes more accessible, enabling hackers to improve their tactics, speed, and reach. What's especially concerning is how hackers are utilizing generative AI to create more sophisticated malware and convincing phishing emails, making them increasingly difficult to detect. Dealing with these evolving threats requires innovative cybersecurity measures to stay one step ahead.
Capitalizing on Emerging Threats: Investing in Cybersecurity ETFs
As the cybersecurity landscape evolves, new threats bring fresh opportunities. With the rising concern over cyberattacks, governments and corporations are increasingly seeking robust cybersecurity plans to combat AI-enabled threats. This growing demand in the AI era could drive more revenue opportunities for cybersecurity firms.
For investors, this could potentially be a valuable opportunity to get in on the action with leading cybersecurity companies by considering cybersecurity ETFs. According to Trackinsight Thematic Observatory, there are over 28 Cybersecurity ETFs globally with a combined $16.2 billion in assets under management.
European investors can access this popular theme through L&G Cyber Security UCITS ETF (ISPY), iShares Digital Security UCITS ETF (LOCK), and First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity UCITS ETF (CIBR) – among others.
LGIM manages the largest cybersecurity ETF in Europe with $2.8 billion in assets, tracking the ISE Cyber Security UCITS Index. This index includes publicly traded companies from around the world that earn a significant portion of their revenue from the cybersecurity industry. This industry consists of two subsectors: Infrastructure Providers, which develop hardware and software for safeguarding data access, and Service Providers, offering consulting and secure cyber services.
As of the end of 2023, the fund had its three largest country exposures in the United States (73%), Israel (11.6%), and Japan (6.3%). The index it tracks comprises 41 constituents, including companies like Sentinelone, CrowdStrike (NASDAQ:CRWD), Trend Micro, and Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO). Notably, the top 10 underlying stocks account for 52% of the index. Since its inception on September 28, 2015, ISPY has delivered an impressive return of +147%. In the year 2023 alone, the fund returned +40%.
The fund carries a 0.69% expense ratio and is available for trading on various European exchanges, such as the London Stock Exchange, Borsa Italiana, Deutsche Börse Xetra, Euronext Amsterdam, and the SIX Swiss Exchange.