Phishing emails sound human. Deepfake voices clone your CFO. Malware adapts mid-attack.
AI attacks are getting scarier.
But here’s the other side: AI also powers business growth. Automation accelerates operations. Intelligent tools sharpen decision-making. The businesses that thrive will be smart about AI adoption—growing while securing data.
The New AI Threats Targeting Central Illinois Businesses
Recent reports highlighted PROMPTFLUX and PROMPTSTEAL—malware families using large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini on live targets. These tools dynamically create malicious scripts and bypass traditional detection, making outdated security systems vulnerable (MIT Technology Review, 2025).
Deepfakes have moved from novelty to weapon. Resemble AI verified at least 2,000 incidents last quarter alone, according to Newsweek. Their founder said: “The barrier to entry has completely collapsed. Anyone with basic access to generative tools can create highly convincing audio or video in minutes.”
In one striking case, a Hong Kong finance worker transferred $25 million after a video call with deepfake executives (BBC News, February 2024). All it took: publicly available photos and brief audio clips.
Peoria manufacturers, healthcare practices, and agriculture businesses handle sensitive financial and operational data—prime targets for these attacks. According to the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, business email compromise and deepfake fraud caused over $4.5 billion in losses nationwide last year.
How AI Transforms Peoria Business Operations
AI is powerful when it comes to automation and operations.
Employee onboarding drops from two weeks to two days. Customer service scripts adapt to your brand voice automatically. Sales teams get call summaries and follow-up emails before they leave meetings.
It eliminates the grunt work burning out your team—data entry, invoice processing, meeting notes, expense reports, schedule coordination. Done right, AI allows your best people to focus on work that requires judgment and skill.
- Manufacturing: AI optimizes production scheduling and predictive maintenance (U.S. Department of Energy, 2024).
- Healthcare: It streamlines HIPAA-compliant documentation and patient intake (HealthIT.gov).
- Agriculture: It analyzes yield data and market trends to improve efficiency (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2025).
Three Steps for Safe AI Adoption
1. Train Against AI Deception
Show your team deepfake examples. Warn against false urgency. Establish verification protocols for sensitive requests—wire transfers, credential changes, confidential data sharing. A quick call to a known number stops most attacks cold.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommends implementing “out-of-band” verification to challenge suspicious communications.
2. Patch Without Delay
Microsoft’s ecosystem faces active exploitation. Attackers know which businesses delay updates.
Facet manages patches and updates to keep Peoria businesses safe from these threats.
Critical: If you haven’t updated Windows 10 PCs, time is of the essence—support ends October 2025 (Microsoft Support Lifecycle Page). Learn more about Windows 10 end-of-life.
3. Audit AI Access
Review who—and what—can act on behalf of your business. Your team already uses AI tools. Free options lack security controls and train on your data—your client lists, processes, and strategies can become training material for competitors.
Enterprise solutions offer the same capabilities with data isolation and access management.
Facet helps Peoria businesses identify safe tools and implement solutions that align with Illinois compliance requirements—HIPAA, PCI DSS, and CMMC (U.S. Department of Defense CMMC Program).
Frequently Asked Questions About AI Security
How can I tell if an email or call uses AI?
You often can’t. Modern AI writes perfect emails and clones voices from three seconds of audio. Verify requests through separate channels—call the person back at a known number, never the one in the message (Federal Trade Commission, 2025).
What’s the biggest AI security mistake?
Letting employees use free AI tools with company data. ChatGPT’s free version, for instance, trains on your inputs (OpenAI Policy FAQ).
Do I need to stop using AI to stay safe?
No. You just need to use the right tools correctly. Enterprise versions provide security controls that free versions lack.
How do deepfakes get past video verification?
Some tools now generate convincing video in under 10 minutes (Stanford Internet Observatory, 2025). Verification must rely on predetermined protocols, not visual recognition alone.
What makes PROMPTFLUX different from regular malware?
It’s adaptive and dynamic—constantly rewriting itself to evade detection, unlike static software. Advanced endpoint protection is designed to catch these evolving threats.
Should Peoria manufacturers worry about AI attacks?
Yes. Manufacturing operations data, client lists, and financial information are prime targets. CMMC compliance now explicitly calls for monitoring AI-enabled threats (Department of Defense, 2025).
What does AI security cost?
Less than one breach. Deepfake wire transfers average $180,000 per incident, and ransomware downtime costs $8,000 per hour (IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025).
Related Services:
- Managed IT Services Peoria
- Cybersecurity Services Central Illinois
- IT Compliance Consulting
- Manufacturing IT Solutions
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Ellie Shaw is the Director of Marketing at Facet and the author of Cyber Treats, Facet's biweekly newsletter featuring topics like IT news, cybersecurity updates, compliance advice, and anything tech. She has been a member of the Facet team full-time since 2016 and enjoys finding new ways to share resources and information about cybersecurity with others.