There are so many confusing topics and just a lot of noise out there about what you should be doing and shouldn't be doing. You get to the point where it's easier to just not go on Internet!
You ask yourself, what URL's should I go on, which ones to I avoid, what emails can I open, and can I "get" anything or not? These are some of the questions you should be asking yourself and become aware of.
The bottom line is the WWW. Is an amazing utility to use in your daily life to connect with friends and family, buy, and get work done much faster. Just as there are scams you need to be aware of in your daily life, you need to be aware online.
When you are on internet you can't see what sites and software you can trust or not trust. It's not as easy as your wallet was stolen so you can easily call and cancel your credit cards.
This is 4 things to be aware of:
1. E-mail Links/Phishing: Don't ever click on links or call phone numbers sent to you via email asking you to update your banking information, even if it looks like the company you have a relationship with. You may have heard of this, it's called Phishing This is a huge scam going on that people need to be very aware of.. If you are concerned about your account, you can easily call the number on that company's website and ask about your account.
2. Never give out your passwords or PIN numbers: No matter who asks for it, do not give it out. Almost all legitimate sites will never ask you for that information. If you loose your password there are ways for you to change it yourself. If someone offers to change it for you, say no. A good tip is to change your password periodically and don't use your home address or birthdates as that information may be easily obtainable by predators. You can be confidant that you are the only one that's knows it.
3. Beware of downloads: Unfortunately over the past few years it's become increasingly dangerous to download anything online. Once a malicious program gets onto your computer it can be a great annoyance factor and harmful to your personal information. Companies that offer a free download of their product you should be wary of; do a gut check as to whether you can trust them. Also have common sense; most things in life are never completely free!
4. Website Address: Always make sure you have typed in the correct web address for the site you are using any personal information. Many copycat sites will take popular web site addresses with slightly the same name for people who type in URL'S wrong and ask for personal information.
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