{"id":100050,"date":"2020-04-24T12:17:30","date_gmt":"2020-04-24T19:17:30","guid":{"rendered":"\/blogs\/?p=100050"},"modified":"2024-02-22T20:22:53","modified_gmt":"2024-02-23T04:22:53","slug":"stay-ahead-of-misinformation-5-ways-to-combat-fake-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/tips-tricks\/stay-ahead-of-misinformation-5-ways-to-combat-fake-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Stay Ahead of Misinformation \u2013 5 Ways to Combat Fake News"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/b>Stay ahead of\u00a0<\/span><\/b>misinformation\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u2013<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>5 ways to combat\u00a0<\/span><\/b>fake news<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Finding information in this\u00a0<\/span>increasingly digital world\u00a0<\/span>has never been easier.\u00a0<\/span>Our mobile phones\u00a0<\/span>dictate\u00a0<\/span>top headlines before we even get out of bed,<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>even\u00a0<\/span>our\u00a0<\/span>routers<\/span>\u00a0can perform<\/span>\u00a0complex<\/span>\u00a0searches via voice.\u00a0<\/span>We see the impact<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>this\u00a0<\/span>easy access<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>on<\/span>\u00a0both<\/span>\u00a0our<\/span>\u00a0consumption and\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>sharing of\u00a0<\/span>information<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Just as it\u2019s easy<\/span>\u00a0for us<\/span>\u00a0to perform a quick search and send the relevant results to our<\/span>\u00a0social groups<\/span>, it\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>simple\u00a0<\/span>for bad actors\u00a0<\/span>to create\u00a0<\/span>and post\u00a0<\/span>fake<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>news\u00a0<\/span>on seemingly legitimate platforms.\u00a0<\/span>In times of uncertainty, it<\/span>\u00a0i<\/span>s natural to go online in search of facts, or the latest update.\u00a0<\/span>Now is\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>great\u00a0<\/span>time to brush up on your digital hygiene and best practices to stay ahead of\u00a0<\/span>evolving threats<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fake news<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

As we\u2019ve learned this year, a lot can change very quickly.\u00a0<\/span>We all want to stay up to date on worldwide trends<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>announcements<\/span>, or even the\u00a0<\/span>elections<\/span><\/a>. This expanded focus on current events opens an opportunity for<\/span>\u00a0bad actors<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>P<\/span>anic-inducing rumors can be labeled as\u00a0<\/span>sensational<\/span>\u00a0at best. However, there are<\/span>\u00a0malicious promises\u00a0<\/span>made via\u00a0<\/span>phishing scam<\/span><\/a>s\u00a0<\/span>that attempt to hook worried and confused consumers into credit card<\/span>\u00a0fraud<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>or other payment<\/span>\u00a0schemes.\u00a0<\/span>Sticking to\u00a0<\/span>legitimate news sources is one of the\u00a0<\/span>easiest<\/span>\u00a0ways to avoid such traps.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chain mail craze<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Not only\u00a0<\/span>should you<\/span>\u00a0validate\u00a0<\/span>y<\/span>our\u00a0<\/span>personal\u00a0<\/span>news<\/span>feed,\u00a0<\/span>y<\/span>ou should also<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>hold<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>your\u00a0<\/span>social networks<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to this sanitized standard. While\u00a0<\/span>well-intentioned,\u00a0<\/span>rumors and fake news\u00a0<\/span>often spread through the social grapevine<\/span>\u00a0e.g.<\/span>\u00a0\u201cmy friend saw this on WeChat<\/span>\u201d or \u201clook at what someone sent me on Facebook.\u201d These updates may feel more relatable since we\u2019re hearing them from someone we know, but\u00a0<\/span>keep in mind that social media chain mail\u00a0<\/span>is often lacking in<\/span>\u00a0factual accuracy.\u00a0<\/span>By\u00a0<\/span>v<\/span>erifying what you\u2019re see\u00a0<\/span>against\u00a0<\/span>legitimate i<\/span>nformation\u00a0<\/span>sources<\/span>, you can help<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>family and friends\u00a0<\/span>stay both diligent and in the know.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span><\/b>Dear Sir\/Madam\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Phishing scams<\/span><\/a>\u00a0also come<\/span>\u00a0out<\/span>\u00a0in full force\u00a0<\/span>during moments of<\/span>\u00a0public panic.\u00a0<\/span>We\u2019ve seen\u00a0<\/span>numerous\u00a0<\/span>spoofed emails and text messages that claim to be\u00a0<\/span>from\u00a0<\/span>local governments, hospitals, or even retailers\u00a0<\/span>encouraging\u00a0<\/span>targets\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>take action<\/span>\u00a0on\u00a0<\/span>urgent\u00a0<\/span>items.\u00a0<\/span>These notices range from\u00a0<\/span>falsified instructions\u00a0<\/span>for<\/span>\u00a0claiming relief checks to scheduling\u00a0<\/span>medical\u00a0<\/span>check-up<\/span>s<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Some of these phishing emails may be easy to spot as\u00a0<\/span>fake<\/span>s, but the sensitivity of the\u00a0<\/span>current environment may cloud our judgment.<\/span>\u00a0If<\/span>\u00a0you have any doubts about the legitimacy of these message<\/span>s<\/span>, you can always reach out to the known institution\u00a0<\/span>through official channels<\/span>\u00a0to verify.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Charity imposters<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

One of the great things\u00a0<\/span>about\u00a0<\/span>extraordinary moments like\u00a0<\/span>these<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is the outpouring of\u00a0<\/span>compassion and empathy\u00a0<\/span>from the<\/span>\u00a0global community<\/span>. Sadly<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>cybercriminals\u00a0<\/span>take advantage of\u00a0<\/span>this<\/span>\u00a0generosity\u00a0<\/span>as well<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Bad actors have stood up fake\u00a0<\/span>charity\u00a0<\/span>sites and platforms in the name of donating resources to underserved populations or supporting research<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>In reality,\u00a0<\/span>these<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>may be\u00a0<\/span>scams<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>any donations received will never see the light of day.\u00a0<\/span>It is a best practice to always research charity organizations before you contribute<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 especially<\/span>\u00a0now.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Protect yourself from misinformation<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Take a look<\/span>\u00a0at some tips and tools below that you can use to stay ahead of misinformation<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n