How To Detect Deepfakes And Mitigate Deepfake Attacks
People’s engagement with digital content is increasing. People these days depend on the internet for information. Even businesses are becoming more reliant on digital technology platforms.
And fraudsters are taking advantage of it by threatening businesses and consumers using deepfake, a technology powered by AI and machine learning that allows people to alter video, images, or audio to launch deepfake attacks and represent something that is not authentic. Now, manipulated videos created using deepfake technology can influence people and their decision-making in the wrong way.
That is why it is crucial to know how to detect deepfakes and combat deepfake attacks. But doing so is not that easy! And that is why you need to read this article now, where you will learn all about best practices for detecting and mitigating deepfakes!
How To Identify Deepfakes?
The deepfake AI technology can be pretty hard to recognize with your eyes alone. However, zeroing in on hard-to-see deepfake characteristics can be possible with the help of emerging techs.
But then again, just as the deepfake detection technology is advancing, so is the quality of deepfakes and deepfake phishing attacks. So, how will you know whether you are watching a deepfake video or listening to a deepfake audio?
By being vigilant and aware of the signs that deepfake content usually has.
You can use soft biometrics, such as how a person talks, moves, etc., to detect deepfakes. Here is how you can detect deepfakes(images and videos) by focusing on soft biometrics.
- Unnatural eye movement (absence of blinking, lack of eye movement, etc.)
- Odd positioning of facial features
- Unnatural facial expressions
- Lack of emotions
- Unnatural body movement
- Odd-looking body or unnatural posture
- Abnormal coloring (unnatural skin tone, misplaced shadows, discoloration, weird lighting, etc.)
- Body features (hair, teeth) that don’t look real
- Images that give unnatural impressions when slowed down
- Inconsistent audio or noise (poor lip-syncing, strange pronunciations, robotic voice, absence of audio, digital background noise, etc.)
- Misaligned or blurry visuals
- Shifts in lighting from one frame to the next one
- Discrepancies in hashes inserted by cryptographic algorithms
Other than these, you can also do reverse image searches to determine whether an image has been altered. Remember, compared to deepfake images/videos, detecting a deepfake voice cyber attack or textual deepfake is more difficult.
What To Do To Mitigate Deepfake Attacks?
Deepfakes are artificially created videos, images, and audio that emulates real human characteristics. They have garnered widespread attention for creating content that spreads misinformation. Take any deepfake attack examples, and you will see that fraudsters create false yet convincing content to spread wrong information or cause misinterpretation.
From financial fraud to identity theft, phishing scams, blackmailing, social engineering, automated misinformation attacks, pornography, reputation smearing, manipulation, etc., deepfake technology is used for various malicious purposes.
But there are some ways that you can use to combat deepfake attacks! Let us hear them now!
Use AI And Anti-Fake Technologies
Deepfakes thrive on technologies like AI, advanced analytics, machine learning, etc., which are accessible to fraudsters. So, why not fight fire with fire?
Check out our detailed article on how you can use AI to fight AI-based deepfakes, and learn using the same AI capabilities used to create deepfakes to fight them off.
You can also use the cryptographic algorithm (anti-fake technology) to insert hashtags at specific intervals throughout your videos. This cryptographic algorithm helps to show that the videos are authentic. The hashtags will change if someone manipulates or alters the videos in question. And you will know that the videos have been tampered with when the hashes will change.
Employ Robust Security Measures
Deepfake phishing attacks are an emerging threat. Hence, relying only on technologies may not be enough to prevent deepfake cybersecurity threats. You must deploy basic and robust security protocols to stop fraudsters from using deepfakes to harm you or your business. For example, implementing automatic checks into any procedures related to discussing payments can help prevent deep fake attacks and related frauds.
So yes, trust a source, but don’t forget to verify. Whether it is a voicemail or a video, having a suspicious attitude toward it can save you from many pitfalls, even if it doesn’t completely protect you from being duped. Also, be it a story, a video, or a user profile, having a zero-trust approach to any form of online content can save you from deepfake fraud.
Have A Layered Defense Strategy
A layered defense strategy related to how fraudsters deploy or distribute deepfakes can also help guard the front door against deepfake attacks. Using a layered approach when planning your internet security strategy can ensure that even if a fraudster manages to penetrate one layer of security, there will be another subsequent layer of defense to stop him.
Implement Blockchain
Blockchain, a decentralized system, can be another viable option to prevent attacks that use deepfake technology. Using blockchain, you can create digital fingerprints for your videos to establish your video authenticity. Though this blockchain-based verification technique may not be foolproof, it can help prove the authenticity of a video.
Plus, blockchain lets users store their information online without using centralized servers. It is resistant to a wide range of security vulnerabilities to which the centralized servers are easily susceptible.
Though presently, blockchain can not store large amounts of data, it can store electronic signatures and hashes. So, for instance, you can use blockchain to verify and authenticate a video or audio document that is personal to you.
Educate Your Employees
One of the main reasons why deepfakes pose a threat to companies is that most employees and organizations are unaware of what they are! In 2022, only 29% of people are aware of deepfakes.
So, everyone in an organization (from the owners to the employees) must be aware of the nature of the deepfake threat to reduce the risks of succumbing to deepfake attacks. When everyone in a company is well aware of the apparent signs of deepfake, the associated security risks, and the possible detection practices, they will be more adept in mitigating the attacks.
Espousing awareness and training is your best chance to fight and win against the rapidly advancing deepfake attacks.
Wrapping Up
On the one hand, the creators of deepfake detection and deepfake mitigation strategies are responding to the latest deepfake in their own ways. On the other hand, those creating deepfakes are again managing to find some way to respond to the new deep fake detection and mitigation technologies.
While this battle continues to go back and forth, there is no harm in knowing about the ways of detecting deepfakes and mitigating the risks. Learning about the tips to spot deepfakes and taking the necessary measures to save yourself increases your chance of protecting yourself from falling prey to deepfakes.
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