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Phishing is one of the biggest problems on the internet today, and has
lead countless numbers of people to giving their personal information
away to someone with malicious intentions. In case you haven’t heard of
it yet, here is how it basically works. Skilled hackers build
duplicates of popular web sites in order to trick you into logging in.
Then, with your password, they can log into your real account and cause
all sorts of mischief. For example, the most popular phishing scam
involves a duplicate of PayPal. Instead of displaying “paypal”, it
would display “paypa1”. Our eyes would get easily tricked when we look
at the browser window. With your account information, hackers can empty
your account of money, or conduct more complex scams hiding behind your
identity.
In order
to avoid being a victim of phishing, you should learn about how URLs
work. URLs are, of course, the addresses of the sites that you visit.
Usually phishing sites will show URLs that look similar enough to give
you confidence. You should always look very close. Say you want to make
a transaction on a site called YourBank.com. You should check the URL
at the top of your browser and make sure that it says
“http://www.YourBank.com” (the www is optional) followed by a forward
slash, followed by whatever information the site requires. If it says
something like “YourBank.comiaj3k1.org”, you can see that it is a false
URL.
In
addition to this basic knowledge of URLs, you can also install some
sort of software that will keep an eye out for you. Modern browsers
such as Mozilla Firefox 2.0 and Internet Explorer 7 have built-in
phishing protection. These programs run off of a list of reported
websites, and also have filters that will look for certain
characteristics of the URL and alert you if it appears suspicious. So
if you don’t already have a program like this, then you should consider
getting one for your own safety and privacy.
The
modern internet has brought us many conveniences, from chatting online
to buying groceries online. But as with anything, some people will try
to take unfair advantage of the situation. So while you are enjoying
the benefits of technology, you should also keep on the lookout for
attempts to steal your personal information. If you get involved in a
phishing scam, it can be a real pain to get sorted out. Read about identity theft deterrent.
Other Pages on Identity Theft: Home
Online Security Insurance
Protection
Reporting
Disclaimer: The information provided here is
only for
informative purposes and nothing more. It is not in any way to be
construed as authoritative. Always consult your financial advisor
before taking any decision. It is informed to the people that this
information that is provided here is not to be acted upon. In spite of
our advise, if any person acts upon the contents of this web site and
incurs a loss, they do it on their own risk. We are not to be held
responsible for any loss, incorrect information etc.
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