The Israel-Hamas war has made headlines worldwide. Cybercriminals often use high-profile news events for disinformation campaigns, which include false information designed to intentionally mislead you. They also use instances like this as well as natural disasters to prey on your emotions for donations that may not be reputable.
Stay alert in the coming weeks, as cybercriminals are already referencing the war in social media disinformation campaigns. Last week, videos were posted on X, formally known as Twitter, that claimed to be footage of the Israel-Hamas war. These videos were actually from video games and fireworks celebrations, but they still went viral. Cybercriminals can use disinformation like this to try to catch your attention and manipulate your emotions. Disinformation can be used as a phishing tactic to try to get you to click on suspicious links or open malicious attachments.
With news also of the need for humanitarian aid, bad actors launch phishing campaigns pretending to be the Red Cross, Unicef, or other charitable organizations to get money or banking information from you.
Follow the tips below to stay safe from these types of scams:
- Be suspicious of emails, texts, and social media posts that contain shocking information about this event.
- Think before you click. Cyberattacks are designed to catch you off guard and trigger you to click impulsively.
- Check URLs carefully, or don’t click on email links, but directly type in the URL for the organization if you wish to donate.
Stay informed by following trusted news sources. If you see a sensational headline, research the news story to verify that it’s legitimate.