Today each of us feels an increasing need to obtain information about events in the world, and many choose Internet as the main source of news. And in order to help you receive and distribute only reliable and truthful news, we offer you the advice from CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine) and The Huffington Post on how to recognize fake and dangerous articles.
- Read not only header. the Authors of false (fake) news very often use the fact that the readers have little time and write the headers so that you want to share the news. But very often the news itself has nothing to do with the header and may contain dangerous information. Therefore, please take it into account and read the news completely before you share them.
- Check the source that posted an article or information. "Sensational" header and a variety of advertising banners must immediately call into question the reliability of the source. Often the sites with fake news try to be similar to large news portals, therefore, check the spelling of the source in the link and find it in a search engine.
- Pay attention to the date and time of publication. One of the types of fake news is trying to pass off old information for new, so always check when the material was published.
- Look who is the author of the article, and whether he has previous publications. Perhaps the author was already noticed in the publication of harmful news.
- Look for reliable source in the news. Links to the scientific papers, laws and reliable information are the signs of good news. But the lack of evidence links and publication of facts without mentioning the sources of information is suspicious enough and could be potentially dangerous.
- Beware of dubious headlines, quotes and photos. For the authors of fakes it is very easy to attract attention and to spread the false information using the "shocking" quotes of "popular personalities," adding their photos. Always treat this news with skepticism and make an obligatory check whether these quotes and photos are published in other sources.
- Beware of the spread of articles that "agree with you" and manipulate the emotions. People tend to spread the headers, if it is something important for them. However, you should verify what exactly is in the article and that the author does not hide the lies under the words that you want to hear. You should not share the news just because you agree with the statement in its header.
- Check this news in other sources. If this news is just in social media or on a questionable website and no other source has reported this information, it is a sign that the news is false or dangerous.
- First think – then share! This simple formula will save you and your friends from watching fake news and risking getting into a threatening situation. All false news share a common trait – they rely on the fact that they are shared mindlessly, without any analysis. So be responsible with the information that you share.
During the quarantine, information security and the spread of reliable news are so important as the hygiene. This helps to create a more healthy and secure atmosphere in the society and helps to raise awareness of the population. Use the tips from professionals, and always check the information.
