Ask HN: How to stay safe in the age of AI?

#1

Post by randohostage » Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 11:26 PM UTC

I am from a war torn country and fear my parents have been made non existent (basically not alive anymore avoiding words) and I have reason to believe my sisters as well as my aunt and grand mother are being held to get me to do things I don't want to do (confirmed this by asking each individual questions that only them and I would know the answer to and each time the questions were answered incorrectly)

I believe the people who did this are people from the same country who live in the US and who have access to advanced AI via Microsoft, Adobe etc and have the ability to fake phone and video calls.

Assuming I have no money how can I protect myself and stay safe? From MITM as well as manipulation by AI? (obviously this may sound like something out of touch with reality to a lot of HN crowd who have never even seen a civil war, tribalism, blood feuds etc but would like to say I am very open about going to therapy I only mention this because I have noticed when trying to get support / reach out to people the first response is to assume it may be mental thing but what are the odds family members who were at specific events all answer >10 questions incorrectly?)

Re: Ask HN: How to stay safe in the age of AI?

#2

Post by madamelic » Sat, Apr 27, 2024, 12:42 AM UTC

Consider that your answers are incorrect / misremembered and the person you are asking remembers the events better. Or alternatively, with older family members, you should consider their memory may be lacking / failing due to age.

You should weigh the value of someone coming after you specifically. If there is nothing of value (you aren't famous, you aren't rich, you don't have a job that would be valuable to exploit), you may be falling into a mental ditch due to persistent and consistent trauma (C-PTSD). Re-reading your post, I see you have already considered this so restating this may have been insensitive and I apologize. With that said, the first bit is true: if there is nothing of value to you, you are unlikely to be specifically targeted.

The first thing to consider is leaving the country which I am going to guess you have considered and are unable to.

The second thing to consider is to become entirely numb and disinterested in others including your family members. If you are concerned about being persuaded to do something, choose to never be persuaded. Under no circumstances will you give money or help regardless of the pleas you hear. Under no circumstances will you answer emails or unsolicted phone calls. If you go this route, ensure that you have the option for not loading images in your email togged on or the sender can receive notifications you opened the email.

Re: Ask HN: How to stay safe in the age of AI?

#3

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Apr 27, 2024, 2:20 PM UTC

madamelic wrote: post #2

Consider that your answers are incorrect / misremembered and the person you are asking remembers the events better. Or alternatively, with older family members, you should consider their memory may be lacking / failing due to age. You should weigh the value of someone coming after you specifically. If there is nothing of value (you aren't famous, you aren't rich, you don't have a job that would be valuable to exploit…

[deleted]