Cybercriminals Target Marketers: AI-Driven Supply Chain Attacks on the Rise

How Marketing Teams Are Becoming Prime Targets—and What They Can Do About It

4月 2, 2025 | 14:21 下午

原载于 Featured in Cyber Defence Magazine

Marketers and cybercriminals now share more than a passing resemblance—their mutual reliance on customer data has created a dangerous overlap. As marketing campaigns become increasingly data-driven, cybercriminals are exploiting the same tools and techniques to carry out highly targeted attacks.

This evolving threat is exacerbated by generative AI. With access to demographic details, browsing habits, and purchasing behavior, cybercriminals mimic marketers by crafting hyper-personalized messages that appear trustworthy. While marketers use these messages to drive conversions, bad actors use them to redirect users to phishing websites or install malware.

Supply chain attacks, particularly those targeting third-party software embedded in marketing operations, have become a primary attack vector. Once inside, hackers extract valuable customer data and deploy AI to distribute convincing phishing emails, texts, or even voice messages at scale.

In one notable case, LEGO's website was compromised, promoting a fake cryptocurrency—'LEGO Coin'—through a realistic banner ad. The incident was part of a broader trend involving SEO poisoning and AI-powered scams, such as voice cloning during the 2024 holiday season.

At the center of many attacks are Content Management Systems (CMS), which store and process large volumes of customer data. CMS platforms face threats on both the front and back ends—from cross-site scripting and request forgery to admin portal exploitation through weak passwords or outdated code.

To mitigate these risks, marketers must embrace cybersecurity as an integral part of their digital strategy. The top five practices include:

  1. Encrypt sensitive customer data—both in transit and at rest.

  2. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all access points.

  3. Educate marketing teams on security best practices and phishing threats.

  4. Regularly update software to patch known vulnerabilities.

  5. Continuously monitor systems for irregular activity and conduct frequent audits.

The stakes have never been higher. Regulatory bodies are holding companies accountable for data breaches, and customer trust is increasingly difficult to regain once lost. Cybersecurity must become part of the marketing DNA—not just the responsibility of IT departments.

2025 is shaping up to be the year marketers don’t just sell products—but actively defend their digital environments.

Featured in "Cyber Defense Magazine April Edition for 2025"

By Jan Haderka, Chief Information Security Officer, Magnolia