:quality(75):max_bytes(102400)/assets.iproup.com/assets/jpg/2026/02/45992_landscape.jpg){kind=small}
AI-Generated Cartoons: A Viral Trend Posing Serious Cybersecurity Risks
A new social media trend involving artificial intelligence (AI) image generation is unwittingly exposing users to heightened risks of phishing, identity theft, and sophisticated social engineering attacks. Thousands are sharing personal photos and requesting AI tools to create caricatures based on “everything they know” about them, a practice cybersecurity experts warn is far more dangerous than it appears.
The core issue isn’t the resulting artwork, but the wealth of personal information individuals are revealing to obtain it. “The greatest risk is not in the illustration that is created, but in everything that people reveal to obtain it,” cautioned a security analyst at Kaspersky’s Global Research and Analysis Team for Latin America. This data, willingly provided to AI platforms, is becoming a goldmine for malicious actors.
The Allure and the Danger of AI Caricatures
The trend, popular on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, sees users submitting photos and detailed prompts to AI tools. These prompts often include specifics about their jobs, families, routines, and hobbies – details that, unbeknownst to many, are being compiled into detailed digital profiles.
These requests aren’t simply processed as visual filters. To generate more accurate and personalized images, users are effectively granting AI access to a trove of associated profile information, including company names, logos, job titles, locations, daily habits, and personal interests. Each piece of data serves as a building block for a remarkably comprehensive digital persona.
How Cybercriminals Exploit Personal Data
By combining image data, textual prompts, and contextual information, cybercriminals can craft remarkably convincing scams. A fraudulent message referencing a user’s employer or even a family member carries significantly more weight and is far more likely to succeed.
The risk is particularly acute in Latin America, where one in four users admit they struggle to identify phishing attempts. The cumulative exposure of personal data dramatically facilitates both social engineering and identity theft, allowing attackers to exploit established habits, relationships, and frequented locations to create highly personalized scams.
According to a recent Kaspersky Digital Language study, 27% of users in the region fail to review application permissions before installation, meaning much of this shared information can be stored indefinitely without their knowledge. Platforms may retain:
- Original photos
- Written instructions
- Usage history
- Technical data such as IP address or device
This means the content doesn’t simply vanish after the cartoon is generated.
Protecting Yourself in the Age of AI-Driven Social Engineering
Experts strongly advise against including identifiable data in prompts and caution against uploading photos containing visible logos, credentials, or sensitive documents. Digital caution is paramount.
Specialists recommend thoroughly reviewing the privacy policies of AI platforms before participating in any trends. They also urge users to refrain from sharing information or images of minors and to supplement prudent behavior with robust digital security solutions, such as Kaspersky Premium, which can detect malicious links and block scam attempts.
While AI tools offer an entertaining avenue for creative expression, adopting responsible habits is crucial. Digital security, both at home and in the workplace, hinges on users’ ability to recognize risks and safeguard their data. The current trend of AI-generated cartoons serves as a stark reminder of how easily playfulness can morph into a significant threat if adequate precautions aren’t taken.
Related reading
