How to Protect Yourself from Internet Scams

The Internet is an amazing place and is literally an inexhaustible source of information. However, with the great power that comes with the web, also comes a great responsibility. There are people who will want to con you for money or to hack your computer to retrieve some of your personal data. As an Internet user, you should empower yourself with the knowledge on how to protect yourself from Internet scams. Here are a few ways in which you can armor yourself against Internet abuse from others.

Be alert
The very first thing that you need to know is that there are scams out there and that they can target you at any time. Your firewall or antivirus might not even pick up some of them, which are how cleverly they have been designed.
You should be skeptical of everything on the Internet and approach each website with the possibility that it might be a scam. The golden rule is: if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is. Sure you might get a once in a lifetime deal, but there is a reason why it is once in a lifetime.

Know where you are
Secondly, you should always know where you are on the Internet. If you do not recognize a domain name or an email address then avoid it. Do your research if you have to deal with a new company or a new person online.

Know who you are dealing with
Google anything you might doubt to find out what others say and whether or not it is a scam. It might take some time, but time is irrelevant when it comes to your online safety. Make sure before you click.

Avoid pop-up messages, emails, and suspicious texts
Once in a while, you might come across a website that is riddled with pop-up windows and suspicious texts. Close them immediately. An even better option would be to install an AdBlock program onto your desktop.
Be careful to whom you give your email address. People hack your inbox very easily and they can have a nice long look at your personal information. If you do not recognize an email address immediately, do not even open it. Delete it immediately. It might contain a virus that will destroy your entire device and you could lose all your important files.

Choose passwords carefully
This is a very important aspect to note. When choosing your password, avoid choosing one that contains your name, your surname, your birth date or any other obvious information.
A strong password will contain a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters as well as numbers.

Beware of any requests for card details or money
Many people fall prey to this trap. You should beware of anyone asking for your credit or debit card details or for your money. This also applies to online shopping. Rather use a secure way such as PayPal which only uses your email address to make a purchase.

The Internet scammers are getting smarter with their approach by redesigning bank sites, Fedex, Dropbox and more. If it looks suspicious, then it probably is! Stay Alert.

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