Something all generations have in common is the desire to stay connected. When it comes to being online, however, there are a lot of threats like phishing that can make staying social difficult. Need help staying secure? Millennials can help – in fact, 82%Footnote 1 of this generation is confident in knowing how to identify a phishing email or malicious link! Here's a glimpse of what we're covering in week three to help you become part of Generation Cyber Safe.
Phishing
Phishing is a common tactic that cyber criminals use to steal personal and financial information. Phishing messages are unsolicited messages from cyber criminals who pretend to be someone they are not, like your bank. Cyber criminals have become increasingly sophisticated in their phishing campaigns, which is why it’s so important to learn the signs. This week, we’re discussing different ways you can spot phishing and how to be cautious online.
Social media
Social media platforms are a great way to stay in touch with family and connect with friends. But if you aren’t careful online, social media can also be an easy way for cyber criminals to learn more about you so they can steal your information. There are different ways to stay safe online, like spotting phishing, reviewing privacy settings and keeping your personal information private.
Social engineering
Social engineering is a form of phishing used by cyber criminals to steal sensitive information by manipulating victims. For example, a cyber criminal may contact you by email or over the phone using facts that you have made public (like posting where you work on social media) to make their request seem legitimate. This week, find out how to spot social engineering and how to protect your personal information from being exploited.
Identity theft and protecting your digital identity
Your digital identity is an online record of your personal information. It could include something as simple as your email address or social media account, or more sensitive information like your social insurance number (SIN), passwords and even your financial information. Explore ways to protect your digital identity like knowing how to spot phishing, keeping your information private, securing your accounts and more.
Artificial intelligence (AI) generated content
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) generated content can make it more difficult to determine whether something you see online is real or fake. Even if you don’t believe what you see, disinformation can create doubt and cause confusion. There are tools that can help fact check disinformation like reverse image searching and tips on how to spot spoofing and other scams.
Conclusion
You can be part of Generation Cyber Safe by learning how to stay safe while connecting with others online! Learn more this week by getting familiar with the signs of phishing and social engineering, safe social media habits and learning how to spot AI-generated content.