According to a survey commissioned by Avast (LSE:AVST), a global leader in digital security and privacy, 9 in 10 (89%) Australians believe that fake news has the ability to impact Australians and their vote in the upcoming election, set to take place this month. The research found that 62% of Australians feel confident they can spot fake news, yet more than half of respondents (56%) admitted to believing a fake news story in the past.

Stephen Kho, Security Expert at Avast says, “Sensationalist fake news is often used to generate clicks onto a webpage to improve ad revenue. It has also been used to influence public thought. The problem with misinformation is that it is becoming more widespread as we all become increasingly more connected online, and fake news sites are interconnected to amplify fake news further across different channels. In recent research, our AI team has found out that 17.9 percent of hyperlinks of misinformation sites link to other misinformation domains. If users visit a misinformation site, the risk is higher that they end up in a rabbit hole of misinformation sites. As information from all corners of the internet is being posted, shared, and liked in the lead up to voting, it’s increasingly important that Australians are aware of how to spot misinformation and misleading news that isn’t based in solid fact.”

The research shows that nearly three quarters of Australians (74%) would find it helpful for them and fellow Australians to have access to information and guidance on how to identify fake news.

Stephen Kho recommends readers run through these four criteria when assessing a news source for misinformation:

• Check the source: Readers should question the source, asking themselves if they have ever heard of it, and assess the source's appearance. Readers should also research the source, to see what has been reported on the source.
• Check the headline: Clickbait articles designed to garner as many clicks as possible often have very catchy headlines. It is therefore important for readers to question articles where the headline and the actual story have little or no connection, and short articles bringing little to no insights.
• Check the publication date: Readers should check the date of articles, regardless of if they are real or fake, to make sure they are reading the most current news.
  

Stephen Kho, also shares tips on how to avoid fake news:

• Avoid relying on social media: While social media giants are making an effort to flag fake news shared within their networks, it's best to avoid consuming news and current affairs via social media news feeds.
• Read a variety of sources: Reading multiple, reliable news sources, can help people avoid fake news. If one article is reporting a story with different facts, the news could be fake.
• Be critical of free "news" sites: Many free “news” sites rely on contributors, not a dedicated staff of journalists. The internet has made it possible for everyone to be a publisher. And while that’s brought a lot of amazing things, it has also created an environment where fake news is a real and consistent problem.