When facts are false, decisions are wrong, says editor and TED Fellow Olga Yurkova. To stop the spread of fake news, she and a group of journalists launched StopFake.org, which exposes biased or inaccurate reporting in order to rebuild the trust we’ve lost in our journalists, leaders and institutions. Learn more about the fight against misinformation as well as two critical ways we can ensure we’re not reading (or sharing) fake news.
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Glossary
- prey – one that is helpless or unable to resist attaca; victim
- verifiable – able to be proved
- hub – the central part of something, esp. a center of activity
- coup d’état – the sudden, violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group
- warfare – the activity of fighting a war
- clickbait – something (such as a headline) designed to make readers want to click on a hyperlink especially when the link leads to content of dubious value or interest
Match the sentence halves:
| 1. They easily become prey to … | a) which analyzes propaganda in all its phases. |
| 2. Take a piece of news, check it with … | b) rebuild trust, because fake news destroys it. |
| 3. StopFake is a an informational hub … |
c) populists in elections, or even take up arms. |
| 4. We’ve identified 18 narratives, created … | d) likely that it isn’t true. |
| 5. If it’s too dramatic, too emotional, too click-bait, then it’s very … | e) using this fake news, such as Ukraine is a fascist state (…) |
| 6. It’s on us to find a way to … | f) verifiable proof like photos, videos and other strong evidence. |
ANSWERS: 1c); 2f); 3a); 4e) 5d); 6b)
Practice Makes Perfect
Fill the gaps in the text with the words in bold below:
cutting off credible malware inoperable on point
Cybersecurity Attacks From Russia Are a Real Threat. Here’s How to Prepare
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, it’s time to make sure your cybersecurity strategy is 1. ………. . While there are no specific or 2. …….. cyberthreats aimed at the U.S. currently, in February the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned that destructive 3. ……… against organizations in Ukraine may spread to businesses in other countries, especially as sanctions continue.
Destructive malware can disrupt your daily operations, infiltrating your networks and 4. …………… access to critical data. The malware known as WhisperGate, for example, which has been targeting organizations in Ukraine, displays a fake ransomware note, encrypts files based on certain file extensions, and can destroy data and render devices 5. …………… .
Every organization–regardless of size–must be prepared to respond to disruptive cyber activity. For Inc.’s November issue, both cybersecurity victims and experts offered tips on how to prevent ransomware attacks. Their advice, which applies to a range of cyberthreats businesses face, couldn’t be more relevant today. Here are some of the key takeaways.
1. Make your defense strategy a budget item.
(…) Jaya Baloo, chief information security officer at antivirus software maker Avast, (…) notes that most attacks are 6. ……… through relatively straightforward measures you can take care of before an attack, such as patching your environment, using two-factor 7. ………, educating your staff about phishing, and trying to catch everything on your servers. (…)
To learn more and check your anwers, go to: https://www.inc.com/brit-morse/ransomeware-malware-attacks-russia-ukriane-cybersecurity-business.html
ANSWERS: 1. on point; 2. credible; 3. malware; 4. cutting off; 5. Inoperable; 6. preventable; 7. authentication
Discuss:
- What springs to mind when you hear the word ”Russia”?
- What is Russia most (in)famous for?
- How different is Russia from other European countries?
- Which city in Russia would you like to visit? Why?
- What will Russia be like 50 years from now, in your opinion?
- Does your country have good relations with Russia?
- What’s your take on Russian leaders?
- What do you think about the Russian people?
- Is there anything you’d like to ask a Russian about Russia?
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Explore it more to create your own teaching-learning experience!
Artist Uldus Bakhtiozina uses photographs to poke fun at societal norms in her native Russia. A glimpse into Russian youth culture and a short, fun reminder not to take ourselves too seriously.
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