CISO Insights: Keeping Your Digital Life Safe
Protecting your personal information is super important, especially online. April 8 was Identity Management Day, which made me think about a couple of common online threats and ways to keep our HM data and systems and your personal information safe.
Heads Up on IRS Scams
With the recent tax deadline, scammers pretending to be the IRS are on the rise. They might call or email, threatening fines or jail if you don’t pay immediately. Remember, the real IRS will never call or email you — they always send official letters. AI is making these scams more convincing, creating fake IRS emails with logos and official-sounding text, and even cloning voices to sound like real IRS agents. These AI scams can be highly targeted, using online info to make their stories believable.
If you get a suspicious call or email, verify its validity by visiting the IRS website for official contact info. Report any suspicious activity to the IRS and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The real IRS will never demand immediate payment or ask for credit card info over the phone.
Social Media Smarts: What to Watch Out For
Social media is great for staying connected, but it can also be a playground for cybercriminals. They can use what you share to trick you with phishing emails, steal your identity or access your accounts. For example, posting your pet’s name or favorite team could make it easy for someone to guess your password or security question.
AI makes this even trickier by scanning social media posts to find patterns helpful in guessing this secret information. It can build profiles of your interests and habits, making fake emails more believable. AI can also create fake, yet realistic videos or pictures, which make it difficult to know what’s real.
To stay safe, share less personal information online. Avoid posting your full name, address, phone number or birthday. Check your privacy settings so only people you know can see your posts, and be cautious about friend requests from strangers — they might be trying to get your info.
Bottom line — keeping your identity safe is an ongoing effort. Stay alert and take extra steps to protect your personal and work data.
Stay safe online!
