Webupon

Being an internet surfer already makes us gullible to links and ads we see on the net. With just a few catchy  words and attractive pictures,we click in a second. For example, those shoot the ipod ad where you just shoot three ipods using your pointer, you get to win an ipod. Now that’s just too darn good to be true.

There are three essential factors one must take notice on when filling up a form or even just plainly signing in to check your email (an online hacker could easily steal your email password by sending a pop-up to your computer looking like a legit log in form but it actually is not)

Look at your browser bar

This is the bar where you type the website you wish to visit. I have once attempted to hire a hacker to help me retrieve the password to my email account of which I have forgotten to, so I then asked for an assurance that I would get it after I paid the $100 (usual rate). So while we were chatting, he gave me a link which lead to a website that looked like Yahoo’s log-in page. I then noticed that the browser bar did not display Yahoo.com but some other domain name. See, if you type your password in that fake Yahoo webpage, the password gets sent to a hacker. So better make sure the domain name matches the site you are in.

Hackers usually benefit having your password by accessing your email account and forwarding viruses to your contacts in your address book. This was how the infamous “I Love You Virus” worked its way to millions of email holders.

Do not give out information you aren’t comfortable releasing

Information such as your credit card number or when the ask for your email password for them to access your address book to send out referrals is not usually a must for release online.

Do not pay without guarantee

I’ve ran into a site once, where it offered for me to earn online for doing copy past jobs and the like but required a $1 registration fee. Most people would think, “Hey,its just a dollar”, but what if the same people in a matter of thousands thought the same and gave in to it, how much would that profit them? Do the math.

Pop-ups must be BLOCKED

Luckily nowadays, you could easily block pop-ups by choosing so on your browser or virus scanner. Pop-ups bring no good and usually link to sites that are harmful to your computer. I’ve noticed since I’d get a virus alert pop-up everytime I get one.