The phenomenon of Online identity theft occurs through various methods: phishing emails, malware attacks, data breaches. Phishing emails trick users into providing personal information by posing as legitimate entities. Malware infects devices and steals sensitive data directly from the user\’s system. Data breaches involve hackers gaining unauthorized access to databases containing personal information, which they can exploit for identity theft purposes. Through these methods cybercriminals access and misuse individuals\’ personal information for fraudulent activities.
Perpetrators access and misuse individuals\’ personal information for fraudulent activities. Identity theft fraudsters and criminals typically target a range of personal information, including social security numbers, credit card details, bank account information, login credentials (such as usernames and passwords), full names, addresses, and dates of birth.
Using biometric data (like fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans) to unlock your phone is generally safe and convenient for the average user. Biometric unlocking is considered safer than traditional PINs or passwords because biometrics are unique and harder to replicate.
A casual attacker or thief would struggle to access your phone compared to guessing or cracking a password. However, it is not foolproof—highly motivated attackers with access to advanced tools might exploit vulnerabilities, such as using a high-resolution photograph for face recognition or a fake fingerprint mold.
The risks of leaking biometric data mainly stem from its permanence—unlike passwords, biometric data cannot be changed if stolen.
If compromised, the risk remains permanently. This can lead to potential identity theft, as stolen biometric data might allow someone to impersonate you in other systems. Additionally, if multiple services rely on the same biometric features, a single data breach could expose you across several platforms.
To protect biometric data, modern phones use several security measures.
Most importantly, biometric data is stored locally in secure enclaves or trusted execution environments, rather than in the cloud. This ensures the data is not transmitted over networks, reducing exposure to hacking.
The data is stored as encrypted mathematical representations (hashes) rather than raw images, making it difficult for attackers to reverse-engineer. Many phones also use anti-spoofing technologies, such as infrared sensors or depth mapping, to detect fake fingerprints, photos, or masks.
For practical safety, it’s essential to set a strong backup password or PIN, as biometric systems typically use these as fallbacks. Regular software updates are crucial to protect against vulnerabilities in the biometric system. Finally, be cautious about storing biometric data in third-party apps or devices with unclear privacy policies, as these might not follow strict security standards.
Biometric unlocking balances convenience and security effectively for most users, though it’s important to remain aware of the potential risks and take precautions to minimize them.
Both VPNs and proxy servers can help protect your identity online, but they operate differently and offer varying levels of privacy and security. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a secure server, masking your IP address and making it difficult for third parties, such as your internet service provider (ISP), websites, or hackers, to track your activity. This encryption ensures that even if someone intercepts your traffic, they cannot decipher it. VPNs provide robust security, making them ideal for users who need comprehensive protection, especially when using public Wi-Fi or accessing sensitive information online.
In contrast, a proxy server acts as an intermediary between your device and the internet by routing your traffic through a different server.
This can hide your IP address from the websites you visit, giving you a degree of anonymity. However, proxies typically do not encrypt your traffic, meaning your ISP or anyone intercepting your connection can still see your data. Proxies are often used for specific tasks, like bypassing geographic restrictions or accessing content with minimal setup, but they are less secure than VPNs.
The key difference lies in the level of privacy and security provided.
VPNs offer end-to-end encryption, protecting all internet traffic on your device, regardless of the application or website you are using.
Proxies, on the other hand, usually only work for specific applications or browsers and do not provide encryption, leaving other traffic unprotected. For users who need to safeguard their identity comprehensively, especially in situations where sensitive data is involved, a VPN is the better choice. However, if the goal is simply to bypass restrictions or mask an IP address for non-sensitive tasks, a proxy server might be enough.
Entering the deep web can be safe if approached with caution and proper understanding, but it also carries inherent risks. The deep web refers to parts of the internet not indexed by traditional search engines, such as private databases, academic resources, and password-protected sites.
Accessing legitimate sections of the deep web, such as university repositories or subscription-based services, is generally safe as long as users stick to trusted and reputable platforms.
However, safety becomes more of a concern when accessing parts of the deep web that require specialized tools like the Tor browser. While Tor provides anonymity by routing your traffic through multiple encrypted nodes, it does not inherently protect you from malicious websites or scams. Some areas of the deep web, particularly the “dark web,” host illegal activities and unregulated marketplaces, which pose significant risks to users. Malicious actors, such as hackers or scammers, often operate in these spaces, and users may inadvertently expose themselves to malware, phishing attacks, or other cybersecurity threats.
Another concern is legal and ethical risks. While browsing the deep web itself is not illegal, stumbling upon or interacting with illicit content—intentionally or not—could have legal consequences.
Additionally, ISPs and government agencies may monitor deep web activity, which could raise suspicion even if your intentions are harmless.
To navigate the deep web safely, use trusted tools like the Tor browser, ensure your device has up-to-date antivirus software, and avoid clicking on unfamiliar links. Never share personal information or download files from unverified sources, as this can compromise your identity or device security. It’s also essential to educate yourself about the sections you wish to access, as not all parts of the deep web are created equal.
In conclusion, entering the deep web can be safe for specific purposes if done with knowledge, caution, and robust security measures. However, the risks associated with accessing unregulated or unknown parts of the deep web make it unsuitable for casual browsing or inexperienced users.
Proceeding with care and a clear purpose is vital to ensure safety.
If you’ve been a victim of online identity theft, it\’s important to take immediate action to minimize further damage. Contact your bank, financial institutions and credit card companies to report any unauthorized transactions and freeze your cards and accounts if necessary. Change your passwords for all your online accounts, set two-factor authentication for added security. Contact your local law enforcement agency (Cybercrime division for example) for further assistance and guidance.
There is a high risk if you shop on insecure websites or use unsecured Wi-Fi networks. Always look for \”https\” in the web address and avoid entering payment information on sites that don’t seem legitimate. Sites for example that do not have an SSL certificate are deemed suspicious and your internet browser will show you a notification for security if you want to proceed at your own risk or not. Last but not least, always check the official domain name as fraudsters clone official websites of banks, companies, organizations, and alter the domain name and official email accounts.
Public Wi-Fi can be risky. Avoid accessing sensitive accounts or making transactions on public networks. If necessary, use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your internet connection.
The simple answer is YES.
While it depends on the specific use of the deepfake application, one of the most common uses—placing a person’s face onto the body of another—can indeed be a crime. In some cases, the intent behind such a deepfake may be to impersonate a famous actor, politician, or another public figure as part of a harmless joke. However, there are instances where the motive behind the impersonation is more malicious: to humiliate or extort the person whose face is used, often through the addition of explicit or inappropriate content.
Particularly concerning are deepfakes that create sexually explicit images—whether real or fabricated—featuring a person’s face. While some may view this as a harmless prank (for instance, showing classmates or teachers in compromising situations and sharing the images with friends), for the victim, it can be seen as a severe form of humiliation. From a legal perspective, this is unquestionably a crime.
Since criminal law is not harmonized across the European Union, the legal consequences can vary from country to country. The punishment may differ, but there will almost certainly be legal consequences.
For example, under Spanish law, the creation and distribution of such content can result in a prison sentence of 1 to 5 years, depending on factors like the nature of the images, how widely they are shared, and whether the victim is a minor or disabled.
The simple answer is YES.
If a deepfake constitutes a criminal act (such as creating explicit or defamatory images without consent), sharing that deepfake is also considered a crime. While the punishment for sharing the content may not be as severe as the penalty for creating it, there will still be legal consequences.
Using Spanish law as an example, sharing such content could result in a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years, depending on factors like the extent of the distribution and the specifics of the case.
In this case, the answer is more nuanced, and there is no simple answer.
Creating a deepfake application is not inherently illegal. Just as manufacturing a gun is not a crime in itself, creating software that could potentially be used for criminal purposes is not automatically illegal. However, if the software is specifically designed with the intention of enabling criminal activities—such as fraud, phishing, or creating explicit content without consent—then its creation could indeed be considered a criminal act.
It’s important to note that the mere fact that a deepfake application could be misused for illegal purposes does not make its creation illegal in and of itself. For example, an application designed for artistic or entertainment purposes, like in the film industry, would not be illegal. The key factor is whether the software was created with criminal intent, and how it is ultimately used. Issues such as consent, distribution, and intent come into play when determining whether the creation and use of a deepfake application constitutes a crime.
– Keep your personal information secure.
– Use different and strong password credentials for each of your accounts and try to change them from time to time.
– Do not share personal sensitive or financial information over the phone, email or internet, unless you have a trusted relationship with the requestor, and you initiated the contact.
– Have a specific credit card for online purchases and do not buy on ecommerce websites that you do not know.
– If you buy/sell a product, always use the official and trusted ecommerce platform channel and do not make the transaction out of it.
– Monitor your bank statements often and report any unauthorized activity.
– Be proactive and if you receive a suspicious message asking you to provide some information, call or contact the company that is requesting this, by an official way, to confirm it.
– Try not to connect to a public and unsecure Wi-Fi network, as hackers can easily connect to your connected device and stole your information (images, videos, audios).
There are some details you can pay attention to that can make you suspicious of a possible deep fake:
– If you watch a video of a celebrity or politician doing/saying something they should not do or unusual.
– Unnatural eye movement.
– Unnatural facial expressions.
– Unnatural body movement.
– Unnatural colouring.
– Awkward facial-feature positioning.
– Awkward body posture. Lack of emotion.
– Hair that does not look real.
– Teeth that do not look real.
– Blurring or misalignment.
– Inconsistent audio and noise.
– Images that look unnatural when slowed down.
– Hashtag discrepancies.
– Digital fingerprints.
– Reverse image searches.
– Video is not being reported on by trustworthy news sources.
If you receive a suspicious email/text message asking you to provide some personal/financial/sensitive information, first at all, do not click on any link and then try to contact the company that is requesting this information, by an official way, for example, looking for its email, phone online, to confirm that the information requested is real.
– If you are receiving threats of any kind so that these contents are not published, remember that sextortion can result on multiple criminal behaviours, and you should report them to the Police.
– If the content has been published without your permission, you should report it to the Police so that it can be removed from the website as soon as possible. There are other agencies responsible for ensuring the security of your data. In this regard, in Spain, the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) has at your disposal the “priority channel”, where citizens can request the immediate removal of images, video or audio of sexual or violent content whose unlawful dissemination would put at serious risk the rights and freedoms, or the physical or mental health of the people affected.
– Block the person on your social networks, collect all the evidence you have and make it available to the Police when you go to file the complaint.
There is no 100% secure method to prevent a person from becoming a victim of identity theft, however:
– Encourage communication with your children so that if they have any problems, they don’t hesitate to tell you about them.
– Try to ensure that they use Internet-connected devices in common areas of the home, it will be easier for you to maintain control over their Internet use.
– There are plenty of parental control tools, both free and paid, that can help you control some forms of identity theft.
– Encourage responsible and critical use of the Internet through digital education.
– Passing yourself off as someone else (identity theft) is a crime, so you should report it to the Police providing all the evidence you have.
– All social networks have a reporting option through which you can inform the social network that another person is impersonating you. The social network can take various measures, including blocking or deleting the fraudulent profile.
When detecting a fake account, we should look at the following characteristics:
– Suspicious photos: especially the user\’s profile photo, it is possible that it is an image taken from the internet and does not correspond to the real identity of the person. Check whether the image comes from the internet or not.
– Check the followers: even if they have many followers, it is possible that cybercriminals are using applications that generate fake profiles and massive followers. They don\’t usually have friends in common, but if they do, the fake profile may be using connections to real people to appear authentic.
– Little personal information and strange behaviour: fake profiles tend to be sparse on personal details to avoid being found out. Check if the number of likes is proportional to the number of followers. If they ask strange questions or ask for personal information or multimedia content, always be suspicious, block and report the profile, as all social networks have a section that allows this, preventing this profile from reaching more people.
– Lack of synergy with other social networks.
– They usually focus on a specific topic (money, politics, sports), and do not interact on a friend, activity or content that may demonstrate minimal activity.
– Its content in terms of images is also usually striking. Sometimes they will use attractive or sexual photos of the impersonated people that will serve as an attention hook, in this case, they have started to use AI to generate images that seems real, so be careful.
– They use unreliable, incomplete, or copied personal data.
As mentioned above, the option to report the fake profile is available on all social networks. In addition, the profile should be blocked to stop them from interacting with us.
If we have been victims of any crime (grooming, stalking, phishing, etc.), we should gather all the evidence and multimedia content we have (screenshots, conversations, images, details of the fake profile, phone number), and go to police stations to make the corresponding report, so that the police can investigate what happened.
It seems that you have been a victim of card fraud. You should immediately report the crime to the police. The easiest way is to make a police report online. Don’t forget to contact your bank to block your bankcard and to get help to stop any ongoing transfer you have not ordered.
Things to consider when reporting card fraud to the police:
– Get your bank statement so you can see which points of sale the fraud has taken place at.
– Think about whether there was a surveillance camera nearby when the crime was committed and how you were dressed. It can help the police identify those who were near you. One of them may have been the impostor.
– You need to have blocked the card before making your police report. You block your card with the bank or company that issued the card.
– Just use the web notification to report a card fraud. Card fraud means that someone has come across your card details and used them to pay for goods and services, usually on the internet.
– For other forms of fraud, you need to call or visit a police station. For example, if you gave your card details to a fraudster, or paid for services you did not receive.
When you shop with cards online keep this in mind:
– Do not shop on unsafe websites. Search for reviews and warnings before a purchase on a page that is new to you.
– Do not save your card details on web pages when shopping. It is much safer to enter the card number every time.
– Use a card that is not linked to your salary account when shopping on the internet.
Tips and advice on how to protect yourself against card fraud:
– Keep in mind that in order to manage your card securely.
– Use the bank\’s security solution for your bank cards. Block the card for internet purchases and open it when you want to shop online.
– Never give out your codes or card details to anyone who asks for them in e-mail, SMS, phone or web pages you shop on.
– Never allow the website or app you shop on to save your personal and card details.
– Do not save your card details on a device that can be connected to the internet, such as a phone, computer, or watch. Then use a credit card or other payment card that is not linked to your salary account.
– Always keep your card in a closed bag or in a closed pocket!
Unfortunately, using the internet aren’t risk-free. Children risk being exposed to various types of crime. E.g. bullying, sexual exploitation or fraud. Protecting your children from online can be a challenge, but there are several measures you could take to increase their safety:
– Parental controls: if your children are small, you could use features and tools that allow you to manage their internet use and safety online. This can include blocking inappropriate content, setting communication limits, and gaining insight into your child’s internet activity.
– Open conversations: talk to your children about the internet and its risks. Besides, encourage them to be critical of information or offers, especially if it seems unbelievable or comes from an unknown source.
Information and awareness: provide your children with knowledge. Explain the importance of not sharing personal information online and being careful about who they interact with. Also, inform them about safe internet habits, e.g. not clicking on unknown links or downloading files from unreliable sources.
– Update Software: ensure all devices your children use have the latest software, as updates often include security improvements.
– Strong Passwords: talk with your children about the importance of using strong passwords and not sharing them with others.
– Contact the police: if you suspect that someone exploited your child in any way you should to contact the police immediately.
Remember to spend time online with your children sometimes. It’s fun to do some online activities together or playing games. That could create an opportunity to get closer to each other and strengthen the trust between you and them. In this case, they would feel more comfortable to get back to you when they need guidance or support.
If the machine looks different or if the keypad or card reader can be wiggled, you should choose another machine.
If your card gets stuck in the machine, contact the bank immediately. Do not leave the place. Also, don\’t let someone behind you in the queue help you get a card stuck in the machine. In this way, the fraudster can get across the code to the card.
Consider this:
– Protect your code. Hide the keypad and fingers when entering the code.
– Do not keep the ATM card code with the card.
– Check what is happening on your accounts from time to time. Then you can discover purchases or withdrawals that you have not made.
– If someone you don\’t know calls and you\’re unsure, hang up or ask to be called back at a number you find out yourself. This applies regardless of whether the person claims to be a close relative or from the bank, a company or an authority.
– Never give out card details, codes or other sensitive information to anyone. Card details and codes are keys to your money.
– Never use your digital-ID at the request of someone who contacts you. Remember that no serious operator would ask you for that over the phone.
– Be critical if someone calls and pretends to be a relative or a distant acquaintance who wants to borrow money.
– Do not trust the person who contacts you just because they have personal information about you. Fraudsters can find information about you online to trick you.
Discovering a deepfake video of yourself can be distressing and shocking.
Here are some steps you can take in this situation:
– Gather evidence by documenting the content: take screenshots or save copies of the video, the URL, and any other relevant information.
– Issue takedown notices to platforms where the content appears: most social media platforms have policies against deepfakes and will remove the content when notified.
– Contact the police to report the incident.
Remember, it’s important to act quickly when you discover a deepfake of yourself. The faster you act, the less time the video has to spread.
In general, online identity theft can have:
– Economic consequences, such as the embezzlement and misappropriation of money.
– Reputational (moral/psychological) damage aimed at undermining the credibility and respectability of the account and/or individual.
The feelings that a victim of Online Identity Theft associates with the lived experience can be many: the emotional distress caused by the feeling of helplessness, which in turn generates anger and fear, for example, but also sadness, anguish, shame, guiltiness; or a combination of emotions; or emotional anaesthesia, that is, the absence of emotions or their denial.
In addition, there are several social harms associated with digital identity theft, such as the time and energy required to solve problems, exposure to judgment, stigma, and fear of risk.
If you are someone close to a victim of online identity theft, you can play an important supportive role through these simple actions to keep in mind:
– Listen carefully and take seriously what is being told to you.
– Spend time with the victim.
– Take a supportive attitude about the incident by offering to help.
– Infuse a sense of protection.
Furthermore:
– Don\’t be afraid to ask questions and delve into the dynamics of the experience suffered.
– Do not take the outburst of even conflicting emotions personally.
– Do not minimize.
– Do not blame
– Infuse calmness and patience. People handle and recover to negative experiences at different rates.
At the same time, psychosocial support can also come from personal network (family members, friends, acquaintances) who can listen, understand and support even at the complaint stage and/or from a professional network of psychotherapists whose can help in the most complex and sensitive cases to process emotions.
