The internet has made many things easy, including shopping, applying for jobs or even following the lives of celebrities.   

However, the internet has also made it easier for scammers to take your money, information and identity. 

If you use the internet often, protect yourself against phishing, deepfakes and other dangers online. 

Phishing 

Phishing scams occur when a scammer impersonates sources like government entities, companies, employers or family members to request money or identifying information.  

Scammers can target victims through many online platforms, such as email and social media. 

According to Forbes, Arkansas lost more money than any other state to phishing scams in 2022, losing about $80,000 per 100,000 residents. 

To avoid falling victim to phishing scams, do not respond to messages if you are unsure about the sender. Be wary of clicking on links in emails and texts and do not send money to people you do not know or companies that do not seem reputable. 

If you fall for a phishing scam, change your login information to your email or social media accounts, scan your computer for viruses or malware and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission. You may also want to contact your bank if you gave out credit card information. 

Deepfakes

A deepfake is a video that has been edited to make someone appear to say or do something that did not happen. 

All someone needs to do to create a convincing voice recreation is find recordings of the voice online. After that, they can feed the program a script for what it wants the AI to say and the program will do the rest. 

Deepfakes can be used to create scams or spread misinformation. Ads using deepfakes have been created with celebrities as their endorsers. Deepfake pornography videos have been made of influencers, forcing them to handle the fallout of videos they didn’t make. 

McAfee conducted a study that showed English speakers cannot tell the difference between real and AI-generated voices in more than 25% of cases. 

To spot a deepfake, look for unnatural eye movements and facial expressions, a lack of emotion and inconsistent audio. 

To protect yourself from being deepfaked, keep your social media accounts private and verify information through trusted sources if you are unsure of its accuracy. 

Arkansas does not have any laws regarding unconsentual deepfaking. However, if you are a victim of a deepfake, it is best to seek legal advice or contact the police. 

General Tips

• Use strong and unique passwords for all your accounts. Do not share your passwords, and use two-factor authentication for extra security. 
• Do not use the same password for different accounts. For example, if a scammer gets your Instagram password, you want your email password to be something else. 
• Be careful when sending personal or sensitive information over the internet. If you do, make sure you are connected to a trusted Wi-Fi network or use a virtual private network (VPN) to keep out hackers. 
• Use a passcode on your phone and computer and make sure it is locked when you are not using it. 
• Set up a password with your family members and loved ones that only they would know. This will help you quickly determine whether the person on the other end of the line is who you think it is.
• Never send cash, gift cards or other monetary services without first verifying the person you are sending it to is who you think they are. 

If you implement these cybersecurity tips into your daily internet use, you will be less likely to lose money or your identity. New kinds of scams appear all the time, so stay up to date to ensure your security. Stay safe out there! 

Anna Cox, copy editor, contributed to this report. 

Jack Douglas, staff writer, contributed to this report.

Categories: Life