You are a misinformation target, but you can protect yourself

Your phone can be a war zone. Not just the daily drama you already see on social media, but nation-state attackers using it to keep you misinformed and confused.

In Ukraine, someone sent out text messages to bank customers on February 15 claiming ATMs were down. They were not, according to Ukraine’s cyber police, who said the messages were part of an information attack designed to cause panic. 

Now the U.S. is warning critical infrastructure companies to take steps to make sure attackers can't use misinformation --- fake info designed to influence you --- to cause big problems. The advice holds true for companies not in critical infrastructure as well. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency or CISA says organizations should learn what misinformation tactics attackers are using with other companies and countries, then plan how to respond if it happens to you.

What's the takeaway for the rest of us? 

From the report:

• Use multi-factor authentication on your social media accounts so people can't break in and use them for misinformation.

• Look at your privacy settings to see what kind of info other people, like attackers, can see and use against you.

• Look out for phishing emails and links. Attackers would love to steal your passwords and/or take over your computer for spying and spreading misinformation.

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