As technology advances, so do the threats to our online safety. With deepfakes and AI-powered scams becoming increasingly sophisticated, it’s essential to know how to protect yourself from falling victim.
In recent years, cybercrime victims have reported losing an average of $30,700 per incident, with one in five people unknowingly purchasing products promoted by deepfake celebrity endorsements. This highlights the need for awareness and proactive measures to safeguard against online threats.
Experts offer several expert tips to help you stay safe:
1) Establish a family-safe word: Use a pre-agreed code to verify who’s speaking or texting, ensuring you’re not falling prey to impersonation scams.
2) Be cautious with caller identities: Hang up if something seems suspicious and call the organisation directly using their official number. This will prevent scammers from stealing money or damaging your reputation.
3) Enable multi-factor authentication: Protect your personal data online by requiring a password and one-time verification code when logging in.
4) Turn on banking push notifications: Stay informed about your transactions to detect potential scams, which can bypass bank monitoring systems.
5) Be mindful of what you share online: Limit the information you share, as this can be used to create deepfakes that are difficult to detect and remove.
6) Educate yourself: Learn about cybersecurity to develop a strong first line of defence against scams.
By following these expert tips, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to cyber threats. Remember, awareness and proactive protection are key to staying safe in the digital age.
Source: https://cosmosmagazine.com/news/csiro-experts-on-scams-and-deepfakes