In this era of increasingly affordable and accessible generative AI tools, it was inevitable that deepfakes – videos, audio, or images that seem real but have been manipulated with AI – are the latest tactic used by cybercriminals.
The term deepfake (a blending of the phrase deep learning and the word fake) was coined in late 2017. Since then, there have been many developments in deepfake and related-synthetic media technologies.
With 2024 being an election year, the looming threat of deepfakes is projected to worsen. It’s imperative for organizations and individuals to come up with a strategy to combat misinformation and fraud in 2024 and beyond.
Deepfakes have become so prevalent that even the government is paying attention to how the technology is becoming more prevalent and sophisticated. The Deepfake Accountability Act was introduced in 2023 to deal with the problems caused by deepfake technology.
Here are 10 tips to protect yourself from deepfakes:
- Educate Yourself
Learn to recognize deepfakes by understanding common signs like weird blinking, inconsistent lighting or shadows, or strange facial movements. The Poynter journalism website advises that if you see a public figure doing something that seems “exaggerated, unrealistic or not in character,” it could be a deepfake.
- Don’t Share Personal Information
The number of deepfakes detected globally has risen dramatically. Avoid sharing personal details online, especially on public platforms where scammers can grab them easily. Regularly review your social media profiles and tighten up security settings to keep your personal info safe.
- Adjust Privacy Settings
Protect yourself by tweaking privacy settings on apps, reading terms and conditions of AI apps, and avoiding sharing high-res, unedited photos that can be easily manipulated.
- Know Trusted Sources
Learn to tell real from fake content by checking sources and verifying information from reputable sources.
- Use Watermarks on Photos
Add digital watermarks to images or videos you share online to make them harder to manipulate or pass off as real.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Make it harder for attackers to access your accounts by setting up two-factor authentication. Use strong, unique passwords and consider using a password manager.
- Use Advanced Security Software
Protect yourself with reliable antivirus and anti-malware software that can detect phishing attempts and suspicious activities. Some software like the latest offering from Enfortra, MyPrivacy360, also offers identity theft protection and alerts for potential deepfake scams.
- Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Contacts
If you get unexpected requests for personal info or money, verify the identity of the requester independently before responding.
- Secure Personal Documents:
Keep sensitive documents like your passport secure and avoid sharing copies unless necessary. Shred old documents with personal details to prevent them from being misused.
- Update Passwords Regularly
Use strong, unique passwords for each account and update them regularly to stay safe. Consider using a password manager for better management.
Identity theft protection solutions such as Enfortra are available to thwart off cybercriminals harnessing the latest tools like generative AI. The key is to balance these solutions with education and awareness to ensure the general public are equipped to avoid being duped by deepfakes.
