It was not long ago that I received an email from the University reminding me that my annual cybersecurity training was expiring soon. Rolling my eyes, I logged in and began the tutorial. I have had many of these trainings, and I am not sure why, but this time it struck me how dangerous our online world has become. There are multiple levels of scams and hacks these days, from pranks to theft and everything in between. I am not an expert in cyber security, but I can share a couple of quick tips that might save you a headache and maybe a lot of money!
The Illusion of the Hooded Hacker
When you hear the word “hacker,” images of a hoodie-clad genius in a dimly lit basement pop up. In reality, they could be anyone, anywhere. They sometimes work alone and other times in large groups in sophisticated schemes. You never know and need to be diligent and aware at all times. To help you, here are a couple of the most common tricks they use.
Spotting Common Phishing Bait
Phishing is the art of tricking you into giving away sensitive data. Imagine a friendly “Hi, we’ve sent your bill from your bank or utility; click the button below to pay. But actually it’s from a random stranger. When you put in your bank card number, they have you! or how about “Hey Tom, it’s your favorite pizza place requesting your SSN for a loyalty card.” Those are easy examples, but the real ones are clever and very persuasive. What helps you spot them? Anytime you see ‘emergency’ in an email, typos, or a link that leads nowhere but a login page. They will send thousands of emails out “phishing” for a few returns, a few folks who click the bait and get caught.
The Emotional Trap of Spear Phishing
Spear phishing is even worse because they play on your emotions, they prey on the vulnerable, and make things personal. They specifically target you with something that will ensure an emotional response. A loved one is in jail and needs money right now to get out; an email that uses a family member’s name, asking for money to get home from a trip. My aunt was scammed for thousands from a group that said her grandson was in danger and would be harmed if she did not send money right away. There was no danger; they played on her misunderstanding of an email and used his name specifically to elicit an emotional response. Don’t send money; check, confirm, and recheck with multiple people before doing anything!
The Rising Threat of AI Mimicry
The next version is much newer and from A.I. This is the one I fear the most. This is the one I think will become more common in the future. A.I is an amazing tool. It allows us to create and make nearly anything in the digital world, but it also has the ability to imitate you. It has the ability to mimic your voice and/or produce a video image in your likeness. They can call a friend or family member and ask for money with your voice. The machine will sound like you; they might even video call, and it will look like you and sound like you. Unfortunately, it’s becoming more common.
How to Protect Your Digital Footprint
What can you do to improve your cyber security? Verify before you click: Hover over links, check the URL. A missing letter or misspelling is red flag. You can also read the guide Don’t sacrifice safety for convenience from UF/IFAS Extension Wakulla County to better identify fake storefronts and fraudulent links.
For those who travel often, the article Smart Travel: How to Keep Your Devices Safe on the Go from UF/IFAS Extension Monroe County highlights hidden dangers like public USB charging stations.
In conclusion, I know nobody wants to learn about this stuff or take cybersecurity training, but it’s important. Learn the devil’s dictionary, become educated, learn their tricks to protect yourself. Update your software and yourself often! Arm yourself with knowledge and don’t get speared!
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