The AI revolution has arrived, and the primary target isn't your software, it’s your human instincts. In this episode of Absolutely Critical, host Lee Mangold sits down with 25-year cybersecurity veteran James McQuiggan to explore the high-stakes world of AI-driven social engineering.

They break down the "wake-up call" story of a global organization that lost $25 million to a deepfake video call and discuss how attackers clone a voice with just 10 seconds of audio. James also provides a framework for defense, from implementing family "code words" to leveraging AI in GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) without losing human oversight.

You’ll learn more about:

1. The Human Vulnerability: Why attackers prioritize "soft targets" over zero-day exploits.
2. The $25M Deepfake: Anatomy of a multi-layered impersonation attack.
3. AI in Governance: Using generative AI to baseline policies and automate audit prep.
4. Polite Paranoia: Practical strategies to verify identity in a synthetic world.

This podcast is for: CISOs, GRC professionals, and security leaders responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and human capital against evolving AI-driven threats.

Learn More About Fortress: https://www.fortressinfosec.com/

Connect With Lee: ​​https://www.linkedin.com/in/leemangold/

Connect With James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcquiggan/