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Watch out for cyber scams ... and cyber workers?

Scams, deepfakes, links, malwares - what you need to know to get ready for the 2024 election.

AuthorAuthorAuthor

Daniel Masterson, Ai Courtrie Buson & Bard Gee
March 08, 2024

☝️ TOP STORY
Looking down on a bustling Vernazza on the Cinque Terra walk on Italy's coast.

Gif by lifetimetv on Giphy

As we get ready for spring vacation and beyond, we want to experience unique stays while visiting places we have long planned to go. If you picked Airbnb, stay within Airbnb.

Scammers are asking shoppers to go to a different legitimately-looking site and take their money.

Always stay in the platform you are sure is correct - Walmart, Macy’s, Target, etc. Those third-party merchants may convince you to go to a different site but think before you link.

Meanwhile …
Cyber workers turning to crime, warns study.
Disgruntled cybersecurity workers, including code developers and AI experts, are offering their services on the dark web for extra cash. On top of that, other professions whose work may have been jeopardized by machine learning are also hiring themselves out to criminals.

✍️ Noteworthy
Anonymous computer hacker in white mask and hoodie. Using laptop computer for cyber attack and calling on cellphone. Special photo processing film grain, noise. Subscribe my channel: https://www.youtube.com/@earthzoom | Donation: https://fantalks.io/r/bermixstudio - any amount appreciated 🤘

From voice to physical likeness, deepfake is only getting better.

"Decoding Democracy" is a limited series by Marketplace Tech that focuses on the impact of technology on democracy, particularly elections. The show tackles the issue of misinformation and disinformation, especially with the rise of deepfakes.

"Decoding Democracy" discuss how this manipulated content can be used to mislead voters and potentially influence elections. The show features interviews with experts, journalists, and researchers to explore the problem and offer solutions for identifying and protecting yourself from such tactics.

BONUS CONTENTS + HOUSEKEEPING
Cybersecurity 🛡️ Awareness 👨‍💻

Apple has issued iOS 17.4, along with a warning to update now. That’s because iOS 17.4 fixes at least four security issues, two of which are already being used in real life attacks.

Security Fixes: 17.4 addresses critical security vulnerabilities in your iPhone's operating system. These vulnerabilities could potentially be exploited by hackers to gain access to your device or data.

Updating ensures you have the latest security patches in place.

Bug Fixes: Minor bugs and performance issues from previous versions may be addressed in 17.4, potentially improving the overall user experience of your iPhone.

📌 Reminder of the Week

This week’s Top Story talks about getting a link from a third-party merchant. But just like with everything else, we should think about the link we just received before clicking on it.

The four Rs

  • Recognize – look out for the hallmarks of a fake profile.

  • Realize – be cognizant of the threat and the ramifications.

  • Report – if you suspect a malicious report, act on it.

  • Remove – remove the link or connection from your professional network

If necessary, use Google or other search engines to verify the information you are getting. Or just not get into it.

📱TEC TIP ✍️
Cut your losses,
Tell your bosses.

Title for the Editor's Note to talk about this edition.

about this edition and Inside Hexagon

We recently realized that it is just as important, if not more important, to zoom in on one important story of the week than a few handful. In the weeks ahead, along with Slam the Scam month for us here at Hexagon Center, we will remove some segments in order to better emphasize and focus on the stories for the week. We hope this will make it easier for people to understand and help them protect themselves.

There are a lot of developments here in Hexagon Center but we will never be tired of hearing from you especially your stories. This month, for Slam the Scam, we want your stories. Tell us your stories by replying to this email.

Glossary/Legend:

  • Scam - a scheme to swindle someone.

  • Think before you link - Seriously consider the link you have and decide if it’s wise to click on it.

  • Deepfake - A synthetic media that has been manipulated to replace one person's likeness with another. Deepfakes are created by a special type of machine learning called "deep" learning. They can be videos, photos, or audio recordings that appear real but have been manipulated with AI.

  • Spyware - software that has malicious behavior and aims to collect information about a person or organization.

  • Ssearch engines - usually a program that searches for and identifies items in a database that correspond to keywords or characters specified by the user, used especially for finding particular sites on the World Wide Web.

Spread cybersecurity culture

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Send us any questions or things you want to talk about. Please share some fun facts with us. We welcome feedback and suggestions.

Hexagon Center is formed as a nonprofit corporation in California for public benefit,
in the process of attaining 501(C)(3) status.

DISCLAIMER

Cybersecurity is an ever-changing field, and threats may evolve. While Hexagon Center strives to provide accurate and timely information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. Users are responsible for implementing their security measures and staying informed about the latest cybersecurity developments.

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