As November draws near, election anxiety is rising, and it’s no wonder. Nearly all races these days, no matter the level, are surrounded by continuous chatter and clickbait content that seeks to play up our emotions and encourage action, whether it’s sharing a post, swaying others or casting a vote for a specific candidate.
In an age of disinformation and what seems like limitless digital threats, what can we do to protect ourselves and our systems in the run-up to the ballot box? We put that question to the cybersecurity experts at Sullivan Wright Technologies who offered some straightforward, easy-to-follow guidance to help avoid inadvertently sharing our data or proliferating inaccurate — and potentially harmful — content.
Don’t get reeled in by phishing. Always think before you click. Ask yourself: Is this email, text or social media post eliciting a sense of urgency, causing fear or exerting authority? If you suspect the sender is trying to manipulate your emotional state, verify the “facts” with objective and reliable secondary sources. When in doubt, delete or ignore the message.
Watch out for unsolicited and unexpected outreach. If content pops up unexpectedly in your inbox, website ads or through your browser as a purported “news site,” don’t engage with it. As a rule of thumb, skip over sponsored results and ads at the top of your search engine. While innocuous-looking, these could be phishing attempts.
Read the fine print. If considering a campaign contribution, do your due diligence to ensure the organization is legitimate. Equally important is determining where the funds will be directed. For example, is the donation for your candidate or a specific cause, or are you propping up a national entity? Front-end research can help prevent your dollars and data from going to an unintended recipient.
Be aware of the algorithm’s power. Clicks feed content. The more you interact with certain viewpoints on social media or within your search engine, the more of it you’ll see in the future. Populated content isn’t designed to give us an objective view. Its goal is to capitalize on our preferences, interests and past viewing history to keep us scrolling.
Stay alert for disinformation. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence delivered a clear warning this summer: “The American public should know that content that they read online — especially on social media — could be foreign propaganda, even if it appears to be coming from fellow Americans or originating in the United States,” per the Associated Press. Diversify your news consumption, practice caution and if there is any hesitation about the credibility of a post or photo, don’t share it.
Watch your financial accounts. If you are concerned about a potential financial faux pas, check your bank accounts and credit cards weekly, if not daily, for suspicious activity. Whether it’s election season or not, keep an eye on your credit reports to ensure cybercriminals haven’t gotten ahold of your personal information without your awareness.
Uncertainty often breeds anxiety. With less than 100 days until Election Day, it’s understandable to feel uneasy about ever-evolving digital threats, from rampant disinformation to suspicious campaign solicitations. With careful clicking and common sense, Sullivan Wright Technologies says we can reduce our risk, safeguard our systems and protect our peace of mind.
Click here to sign up for the monthly e-newsletter:
