Never Click on Unknown Links, Even if They are From Friends!
It seems like it would be unnecessary to say this, but I get spam messages every day saying things like, “LOL. You won’t believe the picture I found of you! bit.ly/WJqsgy”
My first thought was, “Do these spammers really think we are that stupid?” But then I realized, if someone wasn’t falling for this and clicking, spammers would stop. We are that stupid.
Why shouldn’t we click? The link may contain a virus or lead to a site with a Trojan. A good friend’s Yahoo email was hacked recently, probably due to the ongoing Java security exposure.
I’m embarrassed to admit I fell for it and clicked. It took me to a porn site (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it) and fortunately nothing bad happened, but boy did I slap myself in the forehead.
Lastly, banks and PayPal should never send links, so don’t click. Oh, and a Nigerian Prince really doesn’t want to deposit a million dollars in your account, he wants your account codes.
Bottom line, whether it came from a friend via email, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, if in doubt, do not open the e-mail or click on the link. Pick up the phone and call the sender.
1 comment
I get these links sent to me all the time. I try to very cautious and use google to look a website up if contained in a link. If it is in tiny url or something, i just won’t click.