Social media impersonation as a cybersecurity threat

Baltezarević, Radoslav and Baltezarević, Ivana (2024) Social media impersonation as a cybersecurity threat. In: International Topkapi Congress. IKSAD Publications, Istanbul, pp. 288-293. ISBN 978-625-367-867-8

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Abstract

Social media platforms function as a virtual environment where billions of people communicate, exchange knowledge, and develop relationships. Because of the enormous amount of personal information that is shared on these platforms, hackers find them to be appealing targets. The act of making fictitious social media pages, accounts, or identities that closely resemble real ones is known as social media impersonation. These accounts are meant to trick people into thinking they are communicating with a reliable person or entity, which greatly undermines their cybersecurity. Social engineering is a broader term for a set of techniques that include psychological manipulation, including the act of impersonating genuine individuals on social media. The goal is to deceive victims into divulging private information or into acting against their better judgment. Social media impersonation may involve credit card, computer, and financial fraud, harassment, and other crimes that are covered by this Act, depending on the seriousness of the conduct and their outcomes. Although security precautions are put in place by social media sites to safeguard user data, they are not infallible. Cybercriminals take advantage of platform security flaws, frequently using creative methods, to obtain unauthorized access to user accounts and compromise personal data. The battle against impersonation on social media is not one that belongs to one person. It necessitates a coordinated, societal approach based on knowledge and instruction.

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