HaoTech
Deepfakes are AI-created videos or audio that alter reality, potentially harming reputations through fabricated scenarios, like false celebrity actions or misleading interviews. This threat extends beyond the entertainment world to everyday consumers, spreading disinformation and compromising privacy. Recognizing and combating deepfakes is essential:
Key Insights:
- Deepfakes have surged 10x globally across industries between 2022 and 2023.
- 61% of UK women express concern over deepfake pornography, ESET reports.
- Deepfakes risk consumer safety by fostering scams and misinformation.
- Advanced deepfake detection tools are crucial for identifying and mitigating manipulated content risks.
Deepfake Dangers and Protection Strategies
As AI deepfakes become more sophisticated, the risk of scams increases. Adam, a cybersecurity expert, advises trusting your instincts if a call or video seems off, suggesting direct verification with the involved parties. Look out for unnatural movements or audio issues as potential deepfake indicators.
Joseph Thacker, an AI and security researcher, notes the difficulty in preventing someone from creating deepfakes of individuals with an online presence. He emphasizes regulating the use and distribution of deepfakes rather than their creation, likening the issue to copyright material enforcement.
Levin also warns that scammers often limit communication to avoid detection. If pressured for sensitive information, slow down and verify the request. In case of doubt, end the communication, and reach out to the entity through official contact information, avoiding sponsored links that might be scams.
13 Ways to Protect Yourself From Deepfakes: Expert Guidance
In confronting the challenge of deepfakes, particularly regarding identity theft, it’s not straightforward for the average person. Jim Kaskade, CEO of Conversica, acknowledges the difficulty but suggests proactive measures for individuals to protect against deepfake risks. Watch What You Share
The explosion of deepfakes necessitates caution in sharing personal information. Pavel Goldman-Kalaydin highlights a staggering increase in deepfake detection across regions from 2022 to 2023.
Goldman-Kalaydin: “For example, between 2022 and 2023, there was a 1,740% increase in deepfakes in North America, 1,530% in the Asia-Pacific region, 780% in Europe, 450% in the Middle East and Africa, and 410% in Latin America.”
1. Educate Yourself
Becoming knowledgeable about deepfakes is crucial. Look for signs such as unnatural blinking, inconsistent lighting, and odd movements. Kaskade recommends using several tools for content authentication.
2. Kaskade to Techopedia
“Sophisticated consumers can use content authentication tools, such as Originality.AI, Grover, Kazan SEO, Sapling.ai, Crossplag, and CheckForAI, or sophisticated AI-generated photo and video deepfake tools from Microsoft, Intel, Sentinel, and WeVerify.
3. Adjust Privacy Settings
Enhancing the security of your digital footprint is crucial in the age of deepfakes. Pavel Goldman-Kalaydin advises users to be meticulous with app privacy settings and cautious about sharing high-resolution photos that can be easily manipulated. Echoing this sentiment, Jim Kaskade emphasizes the importance of regular reviews of social media settings and the selective sharing of personal information.
Kaskade advises, “Regularly check your social media settings and online presence. Be [aware] of the information you share online. The less personal information available publicly, the less material there is for potential misuse.”
4. Beware of Account Takeovers
The spread of deepfakes can be facilitated through the takeover of social media accounts. Christophe Van de Weyer highlights the risk of such incidents, where a malicious actor could misuse one’s digital identity to share compromising deepfakes.
Van de Weyer cautions, “It’s one thing for a random, anonymous social media account to share a deepfake. But imagine that a bad actor takes over your account and shares a deepfake of you saying or doing something inappropriate.” He references a past incident where the Securities and Exchange Commission’s X account was hijacked, underscoring the potential for similar attacks against individuals.
Melissa Ruzzi supports the call for reduced public visibility online, advising individuals to manage their social media connections carefully and seek the removal of personal information from people search websites.
- Ruzzi recommends, “You should request that websites providing people search features remove your personal information. Also be very selective when accepting new contact requests on social media, they may just be criminals phishing for information.”
These guidelines stress the importance of proactive measures in protecting one’s online identity and privacy amidst the growing sophistication of deepfake technology.
5. Understand Trusted Sources
Jim Kaskade stresses the importance of discerning genuine content from manipulated ones by educating oneself about reliable sources of information. He emphasizes the need to verify information by cross-referencing with reputable sources, a practice that becomes even more critical in the era of advanced AI technology.
Kaskade advises, “Users should also learn how to distinguish between genuine and manipulated content, starting with understanding the sources of information and verifying them through cross-referencing with reputable sources – this applied even before GenAI.”
6. Use Watermarks on Photos
To mitigate the risk of deepfake manipulation, users are encouraged to incorporate digital watermarks into their shared images or videos. These watermarks act as visible markers that help identify the original content, making it challenging for malicious actors to pass off manipulated content as authentic.
This strategy helps “identify the source and authenticity of the material, making it harder for malicious actors to pass off manipulated content as real, thereby protecting individuals’ reputations and privacy.”
7. Use Two-Factor Authentication
Implementing robust security measures, such as two-factor authentication, is essential in safeguarding online accounts against identity theft and potential deepfake dissemination. Kaskade and Christophe Van de Weyer advocate for the adoption of multi-factor authentication across critical accounts, including social media platforms.
Van de Weyer emphasizes, “Set up strong, multi-factor authentication for all your critical accounts, including social media accounts.” This additional layer of security complicates unauthorized access attempts, reducing the likelihood of deepfake-related incidents.
8. Implement Advanced Security Software
Jim Kaskade emphasizes the importance of using reliable antivirus and anti-malware software equipped with features to combat phishing attacks and suspicious activities. Additionally, he highlights that certain security software now offers protection against identity theft and can even alert users to potential deepfake scams.
Kaskade advises, “Use trustworthy antivirus and anti-malware software that incorporate features to protect against phishing attacks and suspicious activities.”
9. Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Contacts
Kaskade warns users to exercise caution when encountering unexpected requests for personal information or monetary transactions, especially through digital communication channels. He suggests independently verifying the identity of the requester before responding to mitigate the risk of falling victim to scams.
Kaskade notes, “If you receive unexpected requests for personal information or money, especially through digital communication, verify the identity of the requester through independent means before responding.”
10. Secure Personal Documents
Users are advised to securely store sensitive documents such as passports or driver’s licenses to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. Kaskade stresses the importance of avoiding unnecessary sharing of document copies and using secure methods when digitally sharing such information.
Kaskade emphasizes, “Store sensitive documents, such as your passport or driver’s license, securely. Avoid sharing copies of these documents unless absolutely necessary, and always use secure methods when you must share them digitally.”
11. Update Passwords Regularly
Kaskade recommends using strong, unique passwords for different accounts and regularly updating them to enhance security measures. He suggests considering the use of reputable password managers to keep track of passwords effectively.
Kaskade advises, “Use strong, unique passwords for different accounts and update them regularly.”
12. Advocate for Digital Identity Verification Tools
Supporting and utilizing platforms that implement advanced identity verification methods, such as biometric verification, is advocated by Kaskade to ensure interactions occur with real individuals rather than deepfakes.
Kaskade states, “Support and use platforms that implement advanced identity verification methods, such as biometric verification, to ensure that interactions are with real individuals rather than deepfakes.”
13. Report Deepfakes
In case of encountering deepfake material involving oneself, Kaskade stresses the importance of promptly reporting it to the hosting platform. This proactive measure can facilitate its removal or investigation, thereby minimizing its potential impact. Additionally, reporting any instances of deepfake material to federal law enforcement authorities is recommended.
Kaskade highlights, “If you encounter deepfake material that involves you, it’s critical that you report it to the hosting platform. Additionally, you should report any deepfake material to federal law enforcement authorities.”
The Bottom Line
The prevalence of deepfakes presents a novel challenge in combating misinformation and character defamation. Nevertheless, implementing the strategies outlined above can aid in safeguarding your online identity.
