A secret code to protect you from AI deception:'Deepfakes' are no longer science fiction. Here’s how to protect yourself and your family.

Do you have a secret code with your family? It might sound like a strange question, but it has become an urgent necessity in the age of artificial intelligence, when you can no longer trust even the voice or face of someone close to you.

Recently, at one major company, employees received an urgent video message from their CEO. He appeared on screen, speaking in his usual voice and face, warning about the dangers of “deepfake” technology. The shock? The video itself was fake, created by the CEO as part of a training exercise to show how realistic and deceptive these technologies have become.

The eye-opening test made employees realize that the threat wasn’t just corporate, it was personal. One of them immediately came up with a secret password to share with his family, to be used in any suspicious or emergency call to verify the caller’s true identity.

The family password: your first line of defense is no longer an overcautious idea but a serious security recommendation. According to StaySafeOnline, a digital safety organization, using private passwords between family members or colleagues can be a highly effective way to confirm identity against deepfake fraud. The concept is simple: a word or phrase known only to you, used to ensure the person on the screen is truly who they claim to be.

How to protect yourself from deepfake attacks: artificial intelligence advances at lightning speed, knowledge and vigilance become our main defense. Alongside your family password,

experts recommend the following steps:

• Awareness and training: Companies should regularly train employees on how to spot signs of fake audio or video.

• Double verification: When receiving any unusual or urgent request (like a money transfer), confirm its authenticity through another trusted channel, such as a known phone number.

• Limit data sharing: Avoid posting clear videos or audio clips of your face and voice publicly. These can serve as “raw material” for AI systems to imitate you.

  
  

Deepfake is no longer a theoretical threat; it’s a digital reality demanding both individual and collective awareness. In a world where appearances deceive, the simplest act like a secret password might be the most powerful way to protect what’s left of our trust.