Skopje, 4 December 2024 (MIA) — The Ministry of Interior has joined Interpol's two-week awareness campaign on the growing number of digital threats against vulnerable individuals and organizations. The Think Twice campaign will run primarily through social media channels through Dec. 19 and highlight the importance of pausing for thought and promoting wise decisions.

The campaign includes a series of short videos and focuses on five rising online threats: ransomware attacks, malware attacks, phishing, generative AI scams, and romance baiting.

"These sophisticated scams have seen a significant increase in recent years, with ransomware attacks up by 70 percent, and malware attacks rising by over 30 percent in the past year alone, with some 20 percent of employees unknowingly running malware," the Ministry of Interior said in a press release.

"With phishing attacks evolving and becoming harder to detect, criminals are also exploiting technology. For example, they are using generative AI to create ultra-realistic human avatars, deceiving thousands worldwide through voice, image, and text manipulation," the release said.

"Romance baiting scams are on the rise too, with cybercriminals using fake online profiles to build relationships and gain trust, before asking for money," it added.

"As the digital landscape continues to evolve, we see online fraud and scams growing in sophistication and scale, posing a threat to individuals and organizations alike. Cybersecurity is a joint responsibility and through proactive steps, we can help build a more secure, and safer, digital world for everyone," Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza is quoted as saying in the release.

The campaign urges individuals to use in-person verification and to consider their interactions with digital content, especially when encountering suspicious links or information. The objective is to empower users to make informed and careful choices online, reducing the risks associated with threats like phishing, malware, and online scams.

According to Interpol's Think Twice campaign, ways to mitigate risks include:

• making considered and rational choices, especially when dealing with unsolicited, unfamiliar, or suspicious links, emails, or messages;
• pausing to evaluate the authenticity and credibility of digital content before taking action;
• verifying identities through multiple channels and being cautious of requests, even from 'familiar' faces;
• implementing a cybersecurity culture in the workplace and providing guidance on issues and incidents for employees;
• being cautious when forming online relationships, especially when money is involved; and
• staying informed on the increasingly advanced tactics used in cyber-enabled financial crimes, making detection significantly more challenging. mr/

Фото и видео: МВР