
Understanding Deepfakes: What You Need to Know
Have you ever seen a video of a well-known celebrity saying something shocking, only to find out later it was entirely fake? Maybe you saw the now famous picture of the Pope wearing a white puffer coat.

Or maybe you've received an urgent email that seemed to be from your boss, but something felt off. Welcome to the world of deepfakes, a rapidly evolving technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create synthetic media, often in the form of videos or audio recordings that appear real but are actually manipulated.
What Are Deepfakes?
Deepfakes leverage AI to create highly convincing but fake media. While they can be used for creative purposes like satire or entertainment, their potential for misuse is alarming. For instance, deepfakes have been used in political campaigns, such as a fake robocall in 2024 that mimicked President Joe Biden's voice, fooling people into believing they said something they never did. Malicious actors can use deepfakes to spread misinformation, damage reputations, manipulate financial markets, and conduct phishing attacks.
Types of Deepfakes and How to Spot Them
1. Face-Swapping Deepfakes
This common type involves superimposing one person’s face onto another’s body in a video. These can be very convincing, especially with high-quality footage and advanced AI algorithms.
How to Spot Them:
Inconsistencies:Â Look for mismatches in lighting, skin tones, and facial expressions. Notice if hair doesn't move naturally or if there are slight misalignments around the face and neck.
Source Check:Â Be wary of videos from unverified sources or unknown social media pages.
Voice Analysis: Pay attention to whether the voice matches the person’s typical speech patterns. Inconsistencies in tone, pitch, or accent can be clues.
While watching for these things will help, technology is advancing so fast we should be aware that the issues mentioned above will become harder and harder to detect.
2. Deepfake Audio
This type involves creating synthetic voice recordings that mimic a specific person’s speech patterns and intonations. I have even used a service to recreate my own voice and used it to narrate a video we're thinking of using to demonstrate how this technology works.
How to Spot Them:
Audio Quality:Â Deepfake audio may sound slightly robotic or unnatural compared to genuine recordings. Look for unusual pauses or inconsistent pronunciation. My own experiments with this deep-fakery resulted in a really weird pauuuuuuuuuuuse in one of the sentences. Regenerating this however made it go away.
Content Comparison:Â Does the message align with what the person would usually say? Check for out-of-character content. I'm hoping to use this as an excuse the next time I say something stupid to my wife. I will tell her it was a deepfake, and I should be in the clear.
Verification: Seek independent evidence to support the audio’s claims.

3. Text-Based Deepfakes
Emerging deepfakes use AI to generate written content, such as social media posts, articles, or emails, mimicking the writing style of a specific person or publication. These are in wide use now. You have likely already had material sent to you that was deepfaked in a phishing attempt or other scam.
How to Spot Them:
Critical Reading:Â Analyze the writing style, vocabulary, and tone. Look for unusual phrasing, grammatical errors, or inconsistencies.
Fact-Checking:Â Verify the information against reliable sources.
Emotional Triggers:Â Be cautious of content designed to provoke strong emotions like fear or anger, as it may be used to manipulate your judgment.
4. Deepfake Videos with Object Manipulation
This type goes beyond faces and voices, using AI to manipulate objects within video footage, altering their appearance or behavior.
How to Spot Them:
Physics and Movement:Â Observe how objects move in the video. Do they appear natural and consistent with the laws of physics? Look for unnatural movements, sudden size changes, or lighting inconsistencies.
Original Footage:Â Compare the video with the original source to identify alterations. (if you can even find it... or if it even exists!)
Stay Vigilant in the Age of Deepfakes
It's essential to stay vigilant and apply critical thinking. Familiarize yourself with the different types of deepfakes and recognize potential red flags. Always verify information through reliable sources.
Get a Device Security Checkup
Criminals use deepfakes for phishing, and clicking on one could download malware or another destructive payload. Clients for 256 Solutions Managed IT in Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Niagara and beyond already enjoy protection on their email through Checkpoint Harmony which helps block these attacks from even reaching you. We also use Fortigates to prevent people from being tricked into clicking over to a low reputation site, and even if they do, our Sentinel One EDR protection will help protect the PC as a last line of defence.
A device security checkup can give you peace of mind by identifying and removing potential threats.
Contact us at 256 Solutions for a comprehensive security checkup today.
Article was heavilly modified and used with permission from The Technology Press.
Comments