AusLeisure

Strategic Membership Solutions, an organisation providing strategic planning, sponsorship, and membership support for associations, has flagged a new threat - AI-powered cyberattacks.

With this month being Cyber Security Awareness month, Belinda Moore from Strategic Membership Solutions notes it is the perfect time for associations to get across this and offers the following information.

AI-powered cyberattacks aren’t your run-of-the-mill phishing attempts. Hackers are using AI to create smarter, more sophisticated attacks that adapt in real-time. Imagine a system that learns from your association’s behaviour, bypassing defences and attacking when you’re most vulnerable—whether it’s post-conference chaos or during a routine system update.

AI: The Hacker’s Secret Weapon
AI doesn’t just help your association streamline processes; it also enables cybercriminals to dig deep into your systems, identifying weak spots. Worse, these attacks can evolve and change as they learn, making them nearly impossible to predict or stop.

Data Poisoning: When AI Works Against You
Think your data is safe? Hackers can corrupt it, feeding your AI false information. Decisions made on poisoned data could lead to flawed strategies, wrong decisions, and a serious loss of trust.

Deepfakes: Don’t Believe Your Eyes
We’re in the age of video calls, but what if that face on the screen isn’t real? Deepfakes, AI-generated videos, can impersonate anyone - even your CEO - leading to fraudulent decisions or approvals that can cost your association big time.

Predictive Threats: Attacks You Can’t See Coming
AI allows cybercriminals to predict your vulnerabilities, striking when you’re least prepared. These attacks are smarter, faster, and more targeted than ever before.

AI-Malware: Self-Learning Destruction
Old-school viruses had nothing on this. AI-powered malware learns as it spreads, adapting to security measures, becoming harder to detect and even harder to eliminate. This type of malware can wreak havoc before you even realise something’s wrong.

Credential Stuffing: Hacking on Autopilot
Hackers use AI to quickly test stolen passwords across multiple systems, automating attacks on a massive scale. If your members or staff reuse passwords (and let’s face it, they do), credential stuffing could lead to unauthorised access across numerous platforms.

What’s Can You Do?
Belinda Moore advises the risks have evolved but questions whether associations’ insurance has and notes that “if you haven’t reviewed your cyber coverage lately, now’s the time to call KBI Insurance.”

Strategic Membership Solutions has partnered with KBI because they believe they’re the best fit for the association sector. Also, Answers for Associations gets a commission, which helps fund the free services they provide for associations.

Moore adds “KBI know associations and offer tailored cover at competitive rates - and they specialise in cyber. Whether it's making sure you're secure against those AI-fuelled cyber nasties or just giving your policies a fresh look, they can help.

“The last thing you want is to explain to your board that a deepfake video scammed your association’s funds and it's not covered in your insurance policy - so take a few minutes to ensure you are covered just in case.”

Click here for a quote or to schedule a call closer to your renewal date.

Image. Credit: KBI Insurance

Related Articles

8th August 2024 - UBX fitness franchise co-founder helps promote new Cyber Wardens campaign

16th July 2024 - ‘Nullbulge’ hackers claim to have carried out major cyber attack on Disney

31st May 2024 - Ticketek Australia advise that customer accounts may have been accessed in cyber security breach

9th February 2024 - CyberCX report indicates growing cyber risks to global sport

24th December 2023 - Life Saving Victoria advises of cyber attack

31st January 2022 - New Zealand tourism businesses facing cybersecurity challenges

13th November 2021 - Businesses need to brace for cyber threats ahead of holiday season

1st July 2021 - Fitness and Lifestyle Group sign with Airlock Digital to protect against cyber attacks

13th September 2024 - Strategic Membership Solutions releases latest whitepaper ‘Evolving Association Membership Models’

5th June 2024 - Strategic Membership Solutions flags the High-Value Sponsorship Trends in 2024

4th June 2024 - Strategic Membership Solutions highlights benefits to associations of deploying chatbots

6th March 2024 - Strategic Membership Solutions spotlights 14 conversations dominating Association Planning in 2024

11th July 2023 - Strategic Membership Solutions share how associations can attract and retain younger members

20th June 2023 - Strategic Membership Solutions release new whitepaper covering the impact of AI on Associations

31st May 2023 - Strategic Membership Solutions shares how to deal with difficult Board Members

9th May 2023 - Strategic Membership Solutions shares strategies for retaining sponsors

12th April 2023 - Strategic Membership Solutions shares how to avoid common sponsorship mistakes

10th February 2023 - Strategic Membership Solutions share ideas for creating immersive and engaging conference experiences

12th January 2023 - Strategic Membership Solutions highlights the Association Trends to watch in 2023

26th June 2020 - Strategic Membership Solutions survey informs associations on planning requirements post COVID-19

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.