Fake videos, deepfakes and other digital manipulations are a real threat to all of us today. The time when we could trust what we see on video is definitely over. With the advent of AI tools like Sora, Heygen or Synthesia, videos are being created that look very real \u2013 but they are not. They often pretend to be created by a trusted source or to depict a famous personality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As with other cybersecurity topics, the user is the weakest link in the chain, and basic knowledge is the key to safety. How do you know if it's a scam? And what can you do about it, even if you're not an IT guy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deepfake technology can create a video in which, for example, Tom Cruise flips a coin (even though he never did it) or a politician calls for something he never said. AI tools today can put a foreign face in a foreign context, generate a voice that sounds like the original, and all this in a matter of minutes. It has no problem even with entire scenes or generating videos from photos in a way that the average user would have difficulty detecting. The consequences can be serious \u2013 from spreading misinformation to damaging the reputation of specific individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can spot AI videos by the finer details. Often, these aren\u2019t obvious mistakes. They\u2019re more like little things \u2013 strange eye movements, a \u201cstuck\u201d face, a mismatch between facial expressions and voice. When watching a suspicious video, try to focus on these 5 areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to sources from the University of Munich, advanced algorithms such as FaceForensics++ can detect manipulations with an accuracy of up to 78 % \u2013 which is significantly more than the average user, who only has a success rate of around 50 %. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So if you are not sure, try using one of the following tools:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The goal isn't to become paranoid. Rather, it's to adopt simple habits that will protect you. Just as we learned not to click on every email from "the bank," we can learn to recognize strange videos. And don't worry\u2014you don't have to be a hacker, just use common sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you interested in this topic? If so, follow my blog<\/a>for more practical tips on how to stay safe in the digital world. Or check out our course offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n