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Main Authors: Warnecke, Alexander, Rieck, Konrad
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.01098
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author Warnecke, Alexander
Rieck, Konrad
author_facet Warnecke, Alexander
Rieck, Konrad
contents Adversarial examples in machine learning are typically generated using gradients, obtained either directly through access to the model or approximated via queries to it. In this paper, we propose a much simpler approach to craft adversarial examples, drawing inspiration from insights of explainable machine learning. In particular, we design \emph{adversarial image filters} that are based on classic edge detection algorithms but optimized to deceive learning models. The resulting untargeted attacks are transferable and require only a single pass over the input. Empirically, we find that 3x3 filters already enable success rates between 30% and 80% on different neural networks. Compared to related approaches using generative models for crafting adversarial examples, we reduce the number of parameters by five orders of magnitude, resulting in a very efficient attack. When investigating the parameters of the learned filters, we observe interesting properties such as a high transferability between models and structures common to classic image filters. Our results provide further insights into the vulnerability of neural networks and their fragility to malicious noise.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_01098
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Almost for Free: Crafting Adversarial Examples with Convolutional Image Filters
Warnecke, Alexander
Rieck, Konrad
Machine Learning
Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Adversarial examples in machine learning are typically generated using gradients, obtained either directly through access to the model or approximated via queries to it. In this paper, we propose a much simpler approach to craft adversarial examples, drawing inspiration from insights of explainable machine learning. In particular, we design \emph{adversarial image filters} that are based on classic edge detection algorithms but optimized to deceive learning models. The resulting untargeted attacks are transferable and require only a single pass over the input. Empirically, we find that 3x3 filters already enable success rates between 30% and 80% on different neural networks. Compared to related approaches using generative models for crafting adversarial examples, we reduce the number of parameters by five orders of magnitude, resulting in a very efficient attack. When investigating the parameters of the learned filters, we observe interesting properties such as a high transferability between models and structures common to classic image filters. Our results provide further insights into the vulnerability of neural networks and their fragility to malicious noise.
title Almost for Free: Crafting Adversarial Examples with Convolutional Image Filters
topic Machine Learning
Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.01098