Page 161 - Cyber Defense eMagazine July 2024

followers to following, and these tools can help visualize patterns to quickly flag accounts that deviate
from the norm, especially those that target high-profile figures disproportionately.

Look and Listen: Using patterns and behaviors to spot scams

Moving beyond social connections, it’s important to scrutinize a profile’s content for authenticity. This
involves evaluating the relevance and quality of what the user has posted. Imposter accounts might share
spammy or irrelevant material that is often filled with suspicious links or promotional content that doesn’t
align with the genuine persona or identity of the account. To defend against this threat, you can set alerts
for keywords associated with spammy or promotional content within your network. This proactive
measure will help to quickly identify and investigate accounts that are frequently using such terms
inappropriately.

Once you have sorted out any red flags due to content, the next step is to employ social listening tools
to track and analyze the profile’s engagement patterns over time. Look for anomalies such as sudden
spikes in likes, comments, or shares, which could all indicate the use of automation or coordinated
inauthentic behavior. Fake accounts will typically display abnormal engagement patterns aimed at
fabricating authenticity. Monitoring these patterns can help identify and flag imposters.

Finally, utilizing third-party tools that use algorithms and machine learning to continuously monitor and
analyze account behavior can significantly aid in detecting and efficiently blocking fake accounts. Using
research and reputable third-party services that offer comprehensive monitoring and analysis features
can ensure integration with existing security systems for seamless detection and response to fake
accounts.

Automate: Strengthen cyber defenses to mitigate threats

The threat of imposter accounts on social media is real and ever evolving. To counter these attacks at
scale, leveraging AI and machine learning can also be a powerful defense mechanism to proactively
detect and remediate threats. Additionally, adopting the above strategies can protect organizations, their
employees, and their online communities from the costly consequences of these fraudulent entities.

Sometimes, you can further insulate the organization from threats by building strong associations with
reputable security thought leaders and communities. Build your awareness of the latest trends and tactics
employed by malicious actors by subscribing to cybersecurity newsletters, or through participation in
webinars and workshops to update your knowledge and skills, so you can recognize emerging threats
built on impersonation schemes.

Cyber Defense eMagazine – July 2024 Edition 161
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