Falling victim to a malicious phone call or fake email scam can cost a person thousands of dollars, even their livelihood, depending on the specific attack, by forcing an individual to continually prove to government agencies or other vital companies that require validated identification that, “You are who you say you are.”
According to one native Arizonan, who asked to remain anonymous, it took several years to literally “get his functioning life back” after falling victim to identify fraud when his computer was hacked.
Cybersecurity expert Oliver Clinch, retains a volunteer position as the Sector Chief Co-Chair for the Transportation/Maritime Industry within the InfraGard Arizona Members Alliance. This role is part of the National Sector Security & Resiliency Program’s efforts to strengthen national critical infrastructure. In this capacity, he works with others to improve the security and resilience of the transportation and maritime sectors. Clinch also works for Ports America, the largest stevedore company in the U.S.
Northeast Valley News reached out to Clinch to ask what the public should know, specifically, about “who” are the most vulnerable for cybersecurity risks?
“The biggest targets aren’t corporations, they are everyday people,” Clinch said.
Clinch, begins his mornings scanning threat alerts and intelligence reports from government and industry partners. His team searches for data breach warnings and blocks malicious internet addresses before they reach employees.
It’s a continuous uphill battle,” he said. “You close one gap, another opens.”
While most people imagine hackers targeting large companies, Clinch says that it is everyday people who are the easiest targets. “It’s a lot easier to exploit trust than to beat enterprise defenses,” he said.
Financial scams, particularly those aimed at the elderly, are rising due to the use of AI.
Attackers pose as officials and warn victims they could face legal trouble unless they send money. “They play on fear and urgency,” Clinch said. “People rush to act before verifying if the call is real.”
To stay safe, Clinch urges users to ignore unknown numbers and confirm bills or warnings directly with companies through official websites. He recommends enabling multifactor authentication on more sensitive information, such as banking, health-care, and email accounts, by using unique, lengthy passwords stored in a password manager.
“Sixteen to twenty-four characters make it nearly impossible to crack,” he said. “The longer, the better.”
Artificial intelligence is reshaping cybersecurity for both sides.
“It’s a double-edged sword,” Clinch said. Hackers use AI to script new attacks and clone voices for phone scams, while defenders use AI to sift through millions of alerts in minutes.
Clinch strongly advises caution about sharing personal images or recordings online. “Your voice and face are now part of your digital identity,” he said.
Clinch’s final advice is simple but leaves a lasting impression: “It sounds funny, but the more paranoid you are—the safer you’ll be.”
“The world is more connected every day. Protecting your privacy protects you.”
