#GivingTuesday: we share tools and resources so you don't get screwed

On the occasion of the launch of the Maldita.es Foundation against disinformation: journalism, education, research and data in new formats , and taking advantage of #GivingTuesday, we want to thank you for being by our side in this battle and sharing with you a toolkit to Don’t let them sneak it in . In the spirit of this day, share it with those who you think might find it useful!

Tools so you don’t get caught

The verification toolbox

One of our classics: in it you can find many of the tools that we use in our daily lives to verify misinformation. Check the origin and date on which images were first used, locate photographs using maps, check the weather on a specific day, search for the origin of a video… Here are the instructions to learn how to use them , but also our Maldito Bulo ‘s colleague , Andrés Jiménez, teaches you in these videos how to do a reverse image and video search:

Our manuals so you don’t miss out

How do we distinguish between what is true and what is a lie? What are the keys so that they don’t sneak it in? How to distinguish pseudoscience from science? In our manuals we give you all the keys, but above all, remember: if you receive something that smells strange to you, don’t share and ask us on WhatsApp (+34 644 22 93 19) !

Maldita.es extension and app

Whether you are more of a mobile or computer surfer, you would surely like to browse and find fewer hoaxes. The Maldita.es browser extensions and the Android app will notify you while you browse if the content you are reading has been denied by Maldito Bulo . In addition, in the app you can also consult our denials and verifications of politicians.

Protect your privacy, your data and your money

Five easy measures you can incorporate into your routine to improve your online security and privacy

One of the goals of Maldita Tecnología is to help you understand how your data is used on the Internet and how you can protect it . Small gestures such as being aware of what we share online, using alternative online services that are more respectful of our data, avoiding public WiFi, changing our passwords from time to time… will help you navigate more safely.

Digital alternatives for your daily life

At Maldita Tecnología we have created a small repository of open source tools , many of which are managed collaboratively and not by a technological multinational. Thus, we can avoid inappropriate processing of personal information that identifies us and belongs to us. Remember: your data is gold!

How to know what information companies have about you , prevent them from using it without consent and report misuse

We have the right to know what information a specific company from which we have requested a service has about us: it is called the «right of access» and it is a fundamental right that is still very unknown. At Maldita Tecnología we have explained how to use the right of access and what we can ask for . In addition, we have told you how to prevent companies from using this data without your consent and how to exercise your right to object . But sometimes, even this knowledge is not enough, so we have also explained how to report an infringement related to your personal data to the Spanish Data Protection Agency .

How to avoid online scams

Online shopping is an area where the ‘bad guys’ are always lurking. Whether it is to get our data or our money, there are never too many precautions when we are going to put our data and our card data on a website. Knowing the keys to protect yourself from scams when making online purchases will save you from more than one disappointment, and it also doesn’t hurt to know what phishing is and how to avoid falling into it , although no one like our Maldito Bulo colleague , Luisa Bernal, to explain it :

Tricks to fight misinformation

Yes, your brain is going to try to sneak it in! The brain has to process a lot of information at every moment, so it uses mental hacks to simplify our daily lives . But sometimes these shortcuts can lead us to incorrect judgments or erroneous interpretations: these are cognitive biases. We give you 5 tips so that your brain doesn’t cheat with the help of Cristina López Tarrida , who is an expert in social engineering and psychohacking.

Being aware of our biases is one of those tips. There are many of them, but at Maldita.es we have defined twenty of the most common biases so that you can be alert against them. Cheer up, detecting our biases takes training!

But it’s not just your brain that will try to sneak it in: people who spread misinformation often use, on purpose or by mistake, arguments that seem valid, but are not. This is what is called «logical fallacies» ; There are many types, but at Maldita.es we explain some of the most common ones so that you don’t miss them .

How to Talk to a Loved One Who Spreads Hoaxes and Conspiracy Theories

A person shares a hoax or conspiracy theory on WhatsApp, or during a conversation, and you don’t know how to react: is there a more awkward moment? It is even more so when that person is a loved one who we do not want to make feel bad because we know that he does not do it with bad intentions. It is important to know how to make them see that they are wrong without ridiculing them or being condescending, since otherwise they might reject our explanation. We tell you how to do it in this infographic:

We hope all of these tools and resources are useful to you! Remember to share it with other people: the more we fight against hoaxes, the more effective our battle will be. Together it is more difficult to get caught!

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