Author: Lucy Roller
Lucy is a student employee with Technology Services.
June is Internet Safety Month. Congress created Internet Safety Month in 2005 as a direct response to the increasing percentage of young people with access to the web. With the world’s growing reliance on technology, it is crucially important to make sure that you are responsible and safe online.
One persistent danger of the internet is the threat of scams. According to security.org, as of 2020, Illinois was ranked #19 in the nation for cybercrime. Here are some common scams and how you can avoid them.
Phishing
Phishing is when someone impersonates someone else to try and trick people out of money or personal information. This may take the form of offers that seem to be good to be true, promising money in exchange for bank information, and impersonating family or friends in desperate situations. Internet scams such as phishing often employ a technique known as social engineering. The National Institute of Standards and Technology defines social engineering as “The act of deceiving an individual into revealing sensitive information, obtaining unauthorized access, or committing fraud by associating with the individual to gain confidence and trust.”
To avoid social engineering, be extremely cautious with who you believe on the internet. Do not give out personal information to people online, especially financial information. Review any suspicious links carefully before clicking on them. If you think someone is trying to scam you, report them, to prevent them from tricking others.
Artificial Intelligence
Another tool that scammers often use is generative artificial intelligence. AI now can be used to impersonate the voice or image of familiar people to aid in scams, or create false, harmful images that can be used for blackmail.
AI engines can hallucinate and output information that ranges from slightly inaccurate to blatantly false. When trying to find information, review your sources carefully before believing them. If something seems odd or suspicious, such as a message from a family member, try to verify it in another way. Double check your information across multiple sources.
What else can you do?
Avoiding scams is important, but it isn’t everything. Here are some further measures you can take to keep yourself safe on the internet.
Use strong passwords
Make sure that you’re using complex, unique passwords. Don’t use personal information that is easy to discover in your passwords. Use a password manager to store and remember your passwords. Bitwarden is the university approved password manager, but there are many great options out there.
Use multifactor authentication
Multifactor authentication requires you to use multiple devices or accounts to verify your identity when you are trying to log into an account. According to the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, “The use of multifactor authentication on your accounts makes you 99% less likely to be hacked.” Enabling multifactor authentication is a quick and easy way to improve your digital security.
Update software
Updating your software is another simple way to keep yourself safe online. Make sure that all your software is up to date to ensure that the latest safety technology is in place.
Though June may be Internet Safety Month, being responsible online is important year-round. Tech Services has plenty of resources and guides to help you stay safe. Make sure that you are taking steps to protect yourself on the web.