GÉANT Cybersecurity Campaign 2025 | Be mindful. Stay safe.
As artificial intelligence (AI) deception grows, a mindful pause can make all the difference
In a world of AI-driven deception, speed is your enemy. Attackers exploit emotional cues like panic, urgency, and excitement to bypass your logic, your most powerful line of defence. By slowing down and creating mental distance, you strengthen your resistance to manipulation. This is the core of digital mindfulness, a proactive approach that goes beyond simply warning users about phishing or unsafe behaviour.
Digital mindfulness builds meta-awareness: the ability to recognise and regulate your thoughts and emotions in real time. Training in attention control, emotional regulation, and cognitive flexibility helps individuals respond more thoughtfully to digital threats, especially under stress. This approach reduces impulsive reactions and reinforces strong cyber hygiene in everyday digital life.
Cyber mindfulness tips and tricks
How to be cyber mindful
Cyber mindfulness means being fully present and aware of how we use technology. In simple terms, it’s about paying attention when we’re online.
Instead of mindlessly clicking through emails or multitasking between browser tabs, we engage thoughtfully with our digital environment.
Use a safe word
When you hear a familiar voice asking for urgent help, your first instinct is to trust it. But what if that voice isn’t real?
Scammers only need a few seconds of audio to create deepfake calls that sound just like your child or colleague. A safe word is a simple yet powerful way to verify someone’s identity.
Have you fallen for a scam?
Cyber scammers are getting smarter and faster. Today, many scams are powered by AI-generated voices, videos, and texts that sound strikingly real.
Whether it’s an email from a “colleague” or a call from your “bank”, it's easy to get caught off guard. But if you have fallen for it, you can still take control.
Recognising AI-driven scams
Deepfake impersonations
Scammers use AI to create realistic audio or video of a trusted person to pressure you into sending money or clicking a malicious link.
Voice cloning phone scams
Criminals use AI to clone voices from short audio samples. With just a few seconds of audio, they can make a call that sounds familiar and urgent.
Business email compromise
AI makes it easier to craft highly targeted phishing emails that appear to come from someone inside your organisation.
Mass-scale scams
AI allows criminals to send thousands of customised messages or calls at once, personalised with information found online or through data leaks.
