The internet is an amazing, powerful tool. However, it is something that should always be used responsibly because it is very possible to fall victim to scams and identity theft – the young and elderly alike.
By now, we all know a lot of the basics of safe online usage and internet security but it never hurts to give yourself a refresher with the tips below.
We are going to begin with going over a few simple rules of thumb and move on to discussing safety on social media:
If Something Seems Too Good to Be True:
If you come across an advertisement online for something that seems completely too good to be true like a free $500 gift card or an all-expense paid cruise, then go no further.
Making people feel like it’s your lucky day is an easy way for scammers to get quick access to your personal information and can be nothing short of a nightmare from there.
If you are entering your bank information or credit card number into a website, always make sure that you are doing so into a secure, reputable site.
Keep Up to Date:
Different scams whether they be via text message, phone call, or online are constantly coming to light on the news and social media and part of being a responsible internet user is keeping up to date with them.
Being familiar with the scams that are out there will make you far less likely to fall victim to them, so it is important to remain diligent and stay informed, helping you to remain safe on the internet.
Check for Reviews:
Before you trust a new website with your information, it is important to check for online reviews to confirm that people have safely used it before.
One of the scams currently running on social media ads advertises PlayStation 5s available for sale but if people researched that website prior to their “purchase” you would have quickly learned from disgruntled consumers that it was a scam.
Checking online reviews is a fast way to confirm if something is, indeed, too good to be true or if you can go ahead with your purchase.
Safety on Social Media:
Sharing anything and everything via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter has been the norm for a while now but you still need to be careful about what information you’re sharing with people you might not even know.
For example, it’s definitely not a good idea to share your location on social media while you are still at that spot.
Rather, post an hour later when you have already moved on to a new location so someone potentially dangerous doesn’t have your exact whereabouts.
Fake social media profiles are also a very real thing and not just in terms of being Catfished. Fake profiles have been known to be the potential work of scammers and will often send you links to a video or website that’s just waiting to give your computer a virus.
If you get a friend request from someone who you don’t know personally or know of, take stock of the requesting person’s friend list before hitting accept. If they do not have any of your friends as someone mutual between you two, it’s a smart move to deny their request.
Online safety standards, for the most part, will always remain the same in terms of being careful about what websites you share your information with and being on the lookout for potential scams.
It is important to remain well informed about possible online situations that could put your identity or information at risk and, once again, only sharing your information with secure websites that have plenty of actual customer reviews.