How to Prevent Yourself from Getting Phished

Phishing is a process of getting vital information like username and password by a hacker or identity thieves. Other vital information that is usually being stolen by phishers are social security numbers, credit card numbers, and financial information. Identity theft, phishing and related activities are quite active in the Internet and many people have been phished, especially those who are using social networking sites like Facebook. Another thing to consider that it is not only individual persons that were phished but also financial institutions, like banks, and other websites that are usually thought as well-protected from hackers.

Phishing, phished and phisher are words that are derived from fish. So for fishing we have phishing. For phished we have fished. For fisher we have phisher. So we can imagine that being phished is a sort situation where a phisher (fisher) got information from you that you don't normally revealed in public

Well, protected institutions have been phished, the question is can you avoid from also getting phished? The answer, of course, is “yes.” Preventing yourself from getting phished is actually simple yet many people forgot to do the simple things to protect themselves and their vital information.
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(from Technospot)

Here are some tips on how to avoid from getting phished:

1. Do Check the Website that You are Logging Into

One way that people got phished is that they don't check if they are logging into the correct websites. This commonly happens on websites that requires you to put in your username and password like Facebook, Twitter, Paypal and your email. One modus operandi of Phishers is to create a bogus website that looks exactly the website that their victims expect. Phishers send email to their victim that purports to come from a trusted institution like banks or Paypal. The email contains links that leads to the bogus website and to trick the victim to enter his username and password.

One of the best way to prevent from getting phished is to check if you are logging into the right website. You can do this by looking at the address bar of your browser. The URL on the address bar should be the same as the URL of the website that you are logging into.

Another way of checking the website is by using the F-Secure Online Software, which can be used to verify if the website is safe or not. This online software is free and easy to use. All you have to do is to input the URL of the suspected website and then F-Secure will show if the website is safe.
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2. Do Check the Email that You Receive

Another way of getting phished is by sending personal information through email when you reply to questionable emails. Another modus operandi of phishers is to send emails to their victims. The email is formal and looks like legitimate emails coming from banks, Paypal or other institutions that phishers are using. These email always ask you to send your username and password because to fix your account, or to give you a bonus item, or whatever tricks that they place in the email. Never believe those email because banks, Paypal and other financial institutions already knows your username and password and there is no reason for them to ask for those information.

3. Don't Buy Your Using Credit Card on Untrustworthy Online Shops or Websites.

Another usual way of getting phished is when you input your credit card number on untrustworthy online shops or websites. Some websites ask you to put your credit card number so you can receive bonus items. You got phished the moment you bite in their “bonus item” lure and input you credit card information. As much as possible, avoid buying to untrustworthy online shops so to avoid from getting phished.

4. Avoid Getting Malwares

Malicious softwares or malwares are also being used by phishers to get valuable information. Malwares are automatically downloaded from untrustworthy websites like porn sites. Also, malwares can also be obtained by downloading free softwares because some phishers use these free softwares as a lure to let their malwares enter the computers of their victims. The moment the malware enter the computer, it will collect information in the computer and forward the information to the phisher via the Internet. To avoid getting phished by malware then I suggest that you refrain visiting untrustworthy websites and downloading freewares. Another way to avoid getting phished is to use softwares, like Spybot – Search and Destroy, to prevent malware from entering your computer.

5. Don't Place Valuable Information in Social Networking Sites

Social Networking Sites like Myspace and Facebook is considered as goldmine for phishers because people willingly place personal information in these websites. For example, in Facebook people have no qualms in placing their address, telephone number, cellphone number, email address and other valuable information. Facebook has history of questionable privacy policy and it was said that many personal information were gathered by identity theft and phishers from Facebook. To avoid getting phished in Facebook then I suggest that you refrain placing valuable information on Facebook and other social networking sites. Also, I suggest that you step-up your privacy settings in these social networking sites.

6. Don't Use Facebook Applications

One way that Facebook users got phished is true the numerous applications or apps that are being made in Facebook. To operate, these apps require access to the account of the Facebook users. Because of this, all information can easily be downloaded by phishers using these apps. 

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Vigilance is needed whenever you are using the Internet because many people are out to get vital information so that they can steal your identity or steal money from your bank accounts. What I wrote here are few of the tips on preventing yourself from getting phished.

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Visit Before the Eastern Sunset and read about yema made from durians.

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How to Prevent Identity Theft When Surfing in an Internet Cafe

Identity theft is one of the major e-crimes. There many stories wherein hackers took over e-mail accounts and other accounts in Facebook, Friendster, and Twitter. When these intruders take over, they usually bar the real owner of the account from accessing their accounts. Many people had been tricked in giving money to the people that purports as the real owner of accounts that they took over.

The risk of identity theft is high in internet café because many people go inside such establishments. Some computer users are negligent and forget to sign out from their accounts. Thankfully, the latest browsers of Firefox and Internet Explorers have tools to ensure that you are protected.

Be Vigilant

This is the foremost and the best tip to prevent identity theft. You should be aware of the people around you when you are online. Make sure that no one is looking when you are typing your username and password to access your accounts. Also be aware of the other computer users that are always looking at you when you are online. It is likely that this people is eyeing you and planning to do something about your account.

Always Log-out

The “Log out” or “Sign out” buttons were placed on your account for a reason, that is to terminate your access to your account after you are done visiting it. Never leave the internet café with your accounts not logged out. Many people forget to do this simple thing and run the risk of their accounts being stolen from them. It is easy to steal an account that was left logged on by its owner.

There are websites that do not automatically log-out if the browser was closed. Friendster is an example of websites that are like this. Logging out of your account is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself from identity theft.

Create Strong and Multiple Passwords

A strong password is a password that has a combination of letters and numbers. However, internet users have a hard time remembering such combinations so they resort to passwords that are composed of phrases. So, if you intend to create a password composed of phrase, then make sure that that password is not easily guessed.

Multiple passwords is also important so to ensure that if one of your accounts was hacked, then other accounts will not be affected. Thus, you should have a different password for your personal accounts like Facebook, Friendster, or Twitter, then a different password for e-mail, and so on.

Don’t Auto-save

Popular browsers like Internet Explorer and Firefox have the capability to save your username and passwords automatically. This capability depends on the settings placed by the internet café administrator. There are internet cafes that have browsers that ask permission before saving your username and passwords, but others auto-save without asking for permission. If you are surfing in an internet café, never let the browser to auto-save either your username or password. An auto-saved username will have a higher risk of its password being guessed by hackers.

Clear All Private Data

Thankfully, Internet Explorer and Firefox (and even Google Chrome) already have a tool that allows the user to clear all the private data collected while the browser is on. Customers of internet café are advised to use this tool before going out of the café. This tool allows you to clear you browsing history, auto-saved username and passwords, and cookies.

For Firefox, you should click Tools >> Clear Private Data. A window, like the one shown below, will pop up. You should place a check on all fields and then click Clear Private Data Now button.

For Internet Explorer, you should click Tools >> Delete Browsing History. A window, like the one shown below, will pop out. You should click on the Delete All button so as to delete all of your browsing history and private data.

If the browser is of old version and does not have these tools, then I suggest that you press Ctrl+h to access the Browser History and delete all its contents.

One of my friends claimed that another person accessed his Friendster account even if already logged out from Friendster. He claimed that the hacker gained access through the Browsing History stored in Internet Explorer. I am not sure if what he claimed was the truth, but deleting your private data after surfing does not do any harm to you. Availing of the said tool is highly suggested to prevent identity theft.

Protecting your internet accounts should always be on the top of your mind when surfing in an internet café. Stories of hacking are true and many have became victim, including their family and friends who were tricked to giving some money. Follow all of my simple tips and everything will be just fine. Happy surfing!

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Visit Before the Eastern Sunset and read by personal blogpost “My Plans and the Future.”