Improvements in technology have made deepfakes — fraudulent audio, video, and images — easier than ever to create. As a result, 2024 has seen a nearly 60% surge in phishing attacks. These attacks hijack our perceptions and our ability to distinguish fiction from reality. They work because they manipulate our brains in ways we’re naturally vulnerable to. To protect yourself, you need to be able to reroute immediate reactions and thought pathways. This includes: 1) refocusing attention to counter urgency tactics, 2) regulating emotional triggers aimed at your compassion, and 3) resisting automatic deference to authority.
