Digital footprint is a data source for scammers!

An event titled “Combating Addiction: ‘Cybersecurity in the Digital Age’” was organized by Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Cybersecurity Expert Ömer Yerlikaya was a guest at the event. Addressing the unseen risks of the cybersecurity world, Yerlikaya stated that digital footprints have become an open source for cyber attackers. Yerlikaya also issued vital warnings to students against social engineering, deepfake, and phishing methods.

At the event held in the Socrates Hall, E Block of Üsküdar University's South Campus, security vulnerabilities brought about by the rapid spread of technology and individual protection methods in the digital world were discussed.

The speed of technology's spread triggers new risks…

Ömer Yerlikaya began his speech by discussing the historical pace of technological development, reminding that it took decades for classic mass media tools like radio to reach large audiences, but today, artificial intelligence applications reach millions of users in just days. 
Yerlikaya emphasized that every digital trace left by 5 billion internet users worldwide is analyzed by attackers, stating; “Your digital footprints are becoming the biggest data source for scammers for targeted attacks.”

Social engineering exploits human psychology!

Yerlikaya pointed out that cyberattacks are designed not only through technical vulnerabilities but directly through human psychology, and underlined the concept of Social Engineering.

 Yerlikaya listed the following fundamental rules for safe digital habits:

•    Phishing Threat: Before clicking on links in fake messages disguised as cargo notifications or bank alerts, sender addresses must be meticulously checked.

•    Physical Security and ATMs: Physical checks should be performed at ATMs against card cloning devices; transactions with QR codes should be preferred whenever possible.

•    Sharing Awareness: Location, address, and identity information shared on social media serve as clear guides for scammers.

AI-supported fraud: Deepfake and voice cloning

Yerlikaya stated that fraud methods have also evolved with developing technology, and touched upon the dangers of AI-supported methods such as deepfake and voice cloning. 

Yerlikaya stated that the most fundamental line of defense against these new generation threats is strong encryption, reminding that passwords should include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, and that using the same password on multiple platforms creates a significant security vulnerability.

The event concluded after Asst. Prof. Nihan Kalkandeler Özdin, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, presented a certificate to Ömer Yerlikaya.