Rutgers.eduApril Fool’s Day is a day for people, brands, and companies to post harmless jokes, but what if these “jokes” weren’t all harmless? Cybercriminals are constantly looking for ways to steal personal information, and April 1 is a perfect day for threat actors to hide in plain sight.
It can be difficult to differentiate legitimate messages from fraudulent ones, but the number one rule to follow is this: Things are not always what they appear to be, so don’t trust everything you see. Below are some resources so that you can learn what scams to look out for, how to identify them, and how you can best protect yourself online.
Don’t get duped: How to recognize and avoid deepfakes
Deepfakes are artificial images or videos used by scammers to appear as legitimate sources, such as an influencer, celebrity, brand, or employer, to steal your personal information. Learn more about how to prevent getting duped through this article by the National Cybersecurity Alliance.
Fight the phish
Phishing scams are when scammers try to steal your personal information while pretending to be a trustworthy source. Cybercriminal activity is on the rise, but luckily, you can learn to recognize, avoid, and report phishing activity through this infographic.
Simple cyber hygiene tips
Keeping your data secure is vital, especially in the quickly evolving digital age. Protect your devices and information online by adopting the helpful habits outlined in our cyber hygiene infographic.
Think before you act: Be wary of phone scams
Have you ever received “urgent” phone calls or texts from sketchy sources pretending to be a loved one asking for money? These “grandparent scams” can target anyone. Learn more about what to look out for and how to protect yourself and others against this scam in this article.
Build a strong password
Step one to securing your personal information online is by having a strong password. Keep cybercriminals away and protect your information by learning how to create a strong password with this infographic.