The fake AI tool problem, and how to download safely

Published 2026-06-26 by Woodruff Training

Small businesses are trying out AI tools faster than almost anyone, and criminals have noticed. Across the first four months of 2026, security researchers at Kaspersky counted more than 33,000 attacks that hid malware inside apps pretending to be popular AI services. That is a rise of almost 500% on a year earlier. The fakes look like the real thing. Behind the familiar logo, some quietly install software that steals passwords or hands an attacker a way onto your computer.

None of this means you should avoid AI. It means you should be a little careful about where you get it.

How the scam works

The pattern is simple. You search for a well-known AI assistant, a "free" version of a paid tool, or a browser add-on that promises to write your emails for you. One of the results is fake. It might be an app, a download, or a subscription page that takes your card details and gives you nothing useful in return. The worst ones install something harmful at the same time.

Criminals do this because they know people trust these names. A logo you recognise lowers your guard, which is exactly the point. The best-known AI tools are impersonated most, precisely because so many people are looking for them.

Staying safe without missing out

A few habits keep you on the right side of this:

• Go to the official website directly. Type the address yourself or use a saved bookmark, rather than clicking a search advert or a link someone sent you.
• Treat "free premium" offers with suspicion. If a paid tool is suddenly free from some other site, that is a warning sign, not a bargain.
• Read the web address carefully before you enter card or login details. Fakes use names that are close but not quite right.
• Install browser add-ons only from the official store, and only ones with a genuine track record.
• Do not grant an app more access than its job needs. If a note-taking tool asks to read every file on your computer, stop.

Decide your tools, then tell your team

The simplest protection is to choose which AI tools your business actually uses, get them from the official source, and let staff know that is the approved list. When everyone knows what normal looks like, the odd fake stands out a mile.

If you would like help choosing tools safely, or training your team to spot the fakes, that is part of what we do. Get in touch for a quick chat.