Who’s That Talking? How to Protect Your Voice and Video from Deepfake Identity Theft | Tech Info

Imagine getting a phone call from your best friend or a family member. They sound exactly like themselves, and they are frantically asking you to transfer money because of an emergency. Naturally, you want to help. But what if the person on the other end of the line isn't your friend at all, but an artificial intelligence program cloning their voice?

Welcome to the era of deepfakes. While AI technology has brought us some incredibly cool tools, it has also handed scammers a powerful new weapon. Today, cybercriminals can clone your voice with just a three-second audio clip or replicate your face from a single social media video. It sounds like a sci-fi movie, but it is happening right now. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a tech genius to protect your digital self. Here is how you can shield your voice and video from deepfake identity theft.

Photo by Monstera Production on Pexels

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels

1. Establish a "Family Safe Word"

One of the easiest and most effective ways to combat voice-cloning scams is completely low-tech. Sit down with your family, partner, or close friends and agree on a secret "safe word" or phrase. If anyone ever calls claiming to be in trouble or asking for money, you can ask for the safe word. If they cannot provide it, you instantly know you are dealing with a scammer, no matter how convincing their voice sounds.

2. Lock Down Your Social Media Privacy

Scammers need source material to build deepfakes, and public social media profiles are their favorite goldmines. If your Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook accounts are public, anyone can download your videos, rip the audio, and use it to clone your identity. Go into your settings today and switch your accounts to private. Only share videos and audio clips with people you actually know and trust.

3. Beware of the "Can You Hear Me?" Scam

Have you ever picked up the phone to a stranger asking, "Can you hear me?" Your natural instinct is to say, "Yes." However, scammers often record these calls to harvest your voice saying affirmative words, which they can later use to authorize transactions or train AI models. If an unknown caller asks a vague question right off the bat, hang up or respond with, "I can hear you," instead of "Yes."

4. Spotting the Glitches in Video Calls

Deepfake video technology is getting better, but it still isn't perfect. If you are on a video call and suspect something is off, look for telltale signs. Ask the person on the screen to turn their head side-to-side, blink rapidly, or wave their hand in front of their face. Deepfake software often struggles to render profiles, rapid eye movement, or hands blocking the face, which will cause the digital mask to glitch and distort.

Quick Tips to Keep You Safe

• Set up a family safe word: Choose a unique word that only your inner circle knows.
• Go private on socials: Limit who can view and download your videos and voice notes.
• Never say "Yes" to strangers: Avoid giving quick verbal confirmations to unknown callers.
• Do a glitch test: Ask suspicious video callers to wave their hands in front of their faces or turn sideways.
• Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Always secure your accounts so scammers cannot steal your actual profile to post fake videos.

The digital landscape is changing fast, but a little bit of awareness goes a long way. By staying skeptical and taking a few proactive steps, you can keep your voice and face uniquely yours. Stay safe out there!