Ways to Tell if a Website Is Fake

Ways to Tell if a Website Is Fake

Unfortunately in today’s world, scammers are coming at us from all angles to trick us to get us to part with our hard-earned money. We all need to be vigilant in protecting ourselves online. If you aren’t paying attention, even if you know what to look for, they can get you. There are numerous ways to detect fake sites or emails, phishing, and other scams.

Before we delve into the signs of fake websites, we will first take a closer look at the common types of scam that use websites, what happens when you accidentally access a fake website, and what you can do in case you unknowingly purchased items from it.

What are fake or scam websites?

Fake or scam websites are fraudulent sites that look legitimate while secretly attempting to steal your personal information, money, or account access.

These deceptive platforms masquerade as trustworthy businesses or organizations, sending urgent messages such as popular shopping websites offering fantastic limited-time deals, banking websites requesting immediate account verification, government portals claiming you owe taxes or are eligible for refunds, and shipping companies asking for delivery fees.

The urgency aims to trick you into logging in and sharing sensitive details—credit card numbers, Social Security information, login credentials, and personal data. Once you submit your data, the scammers will steal your identity, drain your accounts, or sell your details to other criminals on the dark web.

These scam websites have become increasingly prevalent because they’re relatively inexpensive to create and can reach millions of potential victims quickly through email and text campaigns, social media ads, and search engine manipulation.

Cybersecurity researchers and consumer protection agencies discover these fraudulent sites through various methods, including monitoring suspicious domain registrations, analyzing reported phishing attempts, and tracking unusual web traffic patterns. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, losses from cyber-enabled fraud amounted to $13.7 billion, with fake websites representing a significant portion of these losses.

Consequences of visiting a fake website

Visiting a fake website, accidentally or intentionally, can expose you to several serious security risks that can impact your digital life and financial well-being:

• Credential theft: Scammers can capture your login information through fake login pages that look identical to legitimate sites. Once they have your username and password, they can access your real accounts and steal personal information or money.
• Credit card fraud: When you enter your bank or credit card details on fraudulent shopping or fake service portals, scammers can use your payment information for unauthorized purchases or sell these to other criminals on the dark web.
• Malware infection: Malicious downloads, infected ads, or drive-by downloads may happen automatically when you visit certain fake sites. These, in turn, can steal personal files, monitor your activity, or give criminals remote access to your device.
• Identity theft: Fake sites can collect personal information like Social Security numbers, addresses, or birthdates through fraudulent forms or surveys.
• Account takeovers: Criminals can use stolen credentials to access your email, banking, or social media accounts, potentially locking you out and using your accounts for further scams.

Common types of scam websites

Scammers use different tricks to make fake websites look real, but most of them fall into familiar patterns. Knowing the main types of scam sites helps you recognize danger faster. This section lists the most common categories of scam websites, how they work, and the red flags that give them away before they can steal your information or money.

• Fake shopping stores: These fraudulent e-commerce sites steal your money and personal information without delivering products. They offer unrealistic discounts (70%+ off), have no customer service contact information, or accept payments only through wire transfers or gift cards. These sites often use stolen product images and fake customer reviews to appear legitimate.
• Phishing login pages: These sites mimic legitimate services such as banks, email providers, or social media platforms to harvest your credentials. Their URLs that don’t match the official domain, such as “bankofamerica-security.com” instead of “bankofamerica.com” Their urgent messages claim your account will be suspended unless you log in immediately.
• Tech support scam sites: These fake websites claim to detect computer problems and offer remote assistance for a fee. They begin with a pop-up ad with a loud alarm to warn you about viruses, provide you with phone numbers to call “immediately,” or request remote desktop access from unsolicited contacts.
• Investment and crypto sites: These sites guarantee incredible returns on cryptocurrency or investment opportunities, feature fake celebrity endorsements, or pressure you to invest quickly before a “limited-time opportunity” expires.
• Giveaway and lottery pages: You receive notifications with a link to a page that claims you’ve won prizes In contests you never entered, but require upfront fees or personal information to receive them. They will request bank account details to “process your winnings” or upfront processing fees.
• Shipping and parcel update portals: These usually come in the form of tracking pages that mimic delivery services such as USPS, UPS, or FedEx to steal personal information or payment details. The pages ask for immediate payment to release and deliver the packages, or for login credentials to accounts you don’t have with that carrier.
• Malware download pages: These ill-intentioned sites offer “free” but uncertified software, games, or media files that contain harmful code to infect your device once you click on the prominent “Download” button.
• Advance fee and loan scams: These sites guarantee approved loans or financial services regardless of your credit score. But first you will have to post an upfront payment or processing fees before any actual assistance is rendered.

Understanding these common scam types helps you recognize fake sites before they can steal your information or money. When in doubt, verify legitimacy by visiting official websites directly through bookmarks or search engines rather than clicking suspicious links.

For the latest warnings and protection guidance, check resources from the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Recognize a fake site

You can protect yourself by learning to recognize the warning signs of fake sites. By understanding what these scams look like and how they operate, you’ll be better equipped to shop, bank, and browse online with confidence. Remember, legitimate companies will never pressure you to provide sensitive information through unsolicited emails or urgent pop-up messages.

1. Mismatched domain name and brand: The website URL doesn’t match the company name they claim to represent, like “amazoon-deals.com” instead of “amazon.com.” Scammers use similar-looking domains to trick you into thinking you’re on a legitimate site.
2. Spelling mistakes and poor grammar: Legitimate businesses invest in professionally created content to ensure clean and error-free writing or graphics. If you are on a site with multiple typos, awkward phrasing, or grammatical errors, these indicate that it was hastily created and not thoroughly reviewed like authentic websites.
3. Missing or invalid security certificate: The site lacks “https://” in the URL or shows security warnings in your browser. Without proper encryption, any information you enter can be intercepted by criminals.
4. Fantastic deals: Look out for prices that are dramatically low—like designer items at 90% off or electronics at impossibly low costs. Scammers use unrealistic bargains to lure victims into providing payment information.
5. High-pressure countdown timers: The site displays urgent messages such as “Only 2 left!” or countdown clocks with limited-time offers that reset when you refresh the page. These fake urgency tactics push you to make hasty decisions without proper research.
6. No physical address, contact information, legitimate business details: The site provides only an email address or contact form. In the same vein, any email address they provide may look strange like northbank@hotmail.com. Any legitimate business will not be using a public email account such as Hotmail, Gmail, or Yahoo.
7. Missing or vague return policy: Legitimate businesses want satisfied customers and provide clear policies for returns and exchanges. Scams, however, cannot provide clear refund policies, return instructions, or customer service information.
8. Stolen or low-quality images: Scammers often steal images from legitimate sites without permission, making their product photos look pixelated, watermarked, or inconsistent in style and quality.
9. Fake or generic reviews: Authentic reviews include specific details and a mix of ratings and comments. On fake websites, however, customer reviews are overly positive with generic language, posted on the same dates, or contain similar phrasing patterns.
10. Limited payment options: Legitimate businesses offer secure payment options with buyer protection. Fake websites, however, only accept wire transfers, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or other non-reversible or untraceable payment methods.
11. Recently registered domain: The website was created very recently—often just days or weeks ago, whereas established businesses typically have older, stable web presences.
12. Fake password: If you’re at a fake site and type in a phony password, the fake site is likely to accept it.

Recognize phishing, SMiShing, and other fake communications

Most scams usually start out from social engineering tactics such as phishing, smishing, and fake social media messages with suspicious links, before leading you to a fake website.

From these communications, the scammers impersonate legitimate organizations before finally executing their malevolent intentions. To avoid being tricked, it is essential to recognize the warning signs wherever you encounter them.

Email phishing red flags

Fake emails are among the most common phishing attempts you’ll encounter. If you see any of these signs in an unsolicited email, it is best not to engage:

• One way to recognize a phishing email is by its opening greeting. A legitimate email from your real bank or business will address you by name rather than a generic greeting like “Valued Customer” or something similar.
• In the main message, watch for urgent language like “Act now!” or “Your account will be suspended immediately.” Legitimate organizations rarely create artificial urgency around routine account matters. Also pay attention to the sender’s email address. Authentic companies use official domains, not generic email services like Gmail or Yahoo for business communications.
• Be suspicious of emails requesting your credentials, Social Security number, or other sensitive information. Banks and reputable companies will never ask for passwords or personal details via email.
• Look closely at logos and formatting. Spoofed emails often contain low-resolution images, spelling errors, or slightly altered company logos that don’t match the authentic versions.

SMS and text message scams

Smishing messages bear the same signs as phishing emails and have become increasingly sophisticated. These fake messages often appear to come from delivery services, banks, or government agencies. Common tactics include fake package delivery notifications, urgent banking alerts, or messages claiming you’ve won prizes or need to verify account information.

Legitimate organizations typically don’t include clickable links in unsolicited text messages, especially for account-related actions. When in doubt, don’t click the link—instead, open your banking app directly or visit the official website by typing the URL manually.

Social media phishing

Social media platforms give scammers new opportunities to create convincing fake profiles and pages. They might impersonate customer service accounts, create fake giveaways, or send direct messages requesting personal information. These fake sites often use profile pictures and branding that closely resemble legitimate companies.

Unusual sender behavior is another indicator of a scam across all platforms. This includes messages from contacts you haven’t heard from in years, communications from brands you don’t typically interact with, or requests that seem out of character for the supposed sender.

Examples of fake or scam websites

Scammers have become increasingly cunning in creating fake websites that closely mimic legitimate businesses and services. Here are some real-life examples of how cybercriminals use fake websites to victimize consumers:

USPS-themed scams and websites

Scammers exploit your trust in the United States Postal Service (USPS), designing sophisticated fake websites to steal your personal information, payment details, or money. They know you’re expecting a package or need to resolve a delivery issue, making you more likely to enter sensitive information without carefully verifying the site’s authenticity.

USPS-themed smishing attacks arrive as text messages stating your package is delayed, undeliverable, or requires immediate action. Common phrases include “Pay $1.99 to reschedule delivery” or “Your package is held – click here to release.”

Common URL tricks in USPS scams

Scammers use various URL manipulation techniques to make their fake sites appear official. Watch for these red flags:

• Misspelled domains: Sites like “uspps.com,” “uspo.com,” or “us-ps.com” instead of the official “usps.com”
• Extra characters: URLs containing hyphens, numbers, or additional words like “usps-tracking.com” or “usps2024.com”
• Different extensions: Domains ending in .net, .org, .info, or country codes instead of .com
• Subdomain tricks: URLs like “usps.fake-site.com” where “usps” appears as a subdomain rather than the main domain
• HTTPS absence: Legitimate USPS pages use secure HTTPS connections, while some fake sites may only use HTTP

Verify through official USPS channels

Always verify package information and delivery issues through official USPS channels before taking any action on suspicious websites or messages:

• Official USPS website: Report the incident directly to usps.com by typing the URL into your browser rather than clicking links from emails or texts. Use the tracking tool on the homepage to check your package status with the official tracking number.
• Official USPS mobile app: The USPS mobile app, available from official app stores, provides secure access to tracking, scheduling, and delivery management. Verify that you are downloading from USPS by checking the publisher name and official branding.
• USPS customer service: If you receive conflicting information or suspect a scam, call USPS customer service at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) to verify delivery issues or payment requests.
• Your local post office: When you need definitive verification, speak with postal workers at your local USPS location who can access your package information directly in their systems.

Where and how to report fake USPS websites

Reporting fake USPS websites helps protect others from falling victim to these scams and assists law enforcement in tracking down perpetrators.

• Report to USPS: Forward suspicious emails to the United States Postal Inspection Service and report fake websites through the USPS website’s fraud reporting section. The postal inspection service investigates mail fraud and online scams targeting postal customers.
• File with the Federal Trade Commission: Report the fraudulent website at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, providing details about the fake site’s URL, any money lost, and screenshots of the fraudulent pages.
• Contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation: Submit reports through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, especially if you provided personal information or lost money to the scam.
• Alert your state attorney general: Many state attorneys general offices track consumer fraud and can investigate scams targeting residents in their jurisdiction.

Remember that legitimate USPS services are free for standard delivery confirmation and tracking. Any website demanding payment for basic package tracking or delivery should be treated as suspicious and verified through official USPS channels before providing any personal or financial information.

Tech support pop-up ads scams

According to the Federal Trade Commission, tech support scams cost Americans nearly $1.5 billion in 2024. These types of social engineering attacks are increasingly becoming sophisticated, making it more important than ever to verify security alerts through official channels.

Sadly, many scammers are misusing the McAfee name to create fake tech support pop-up scams and trick you into believing your computer is infected or your protection has expired and hoping you’ll act without thinking.

These pop-ups typically appear while you’re browsing and claim your computer is severely infected with viruses, malware, or other threats. They use official-looking McAfee logos, colors, and messaging to appear legitimate to get you to call a fake support number, download malicious software, or pay for unnecessary services.

Red flags of fake McAfee pop-up

Learning to detect fake sites and pop-ups protects you from scam. Be on the lookout for these warning signs:

• Offering phone numbers to call immediately: Legitimate McAfee software never displays pop-ups demanding you call a phone number right away for virus removal.
• Requests for remote access: Authentic McAfee alerts won’t ask you for permission to remotely control your computer to “fix” issues.
• Immediate payment demands: Real McAfee pop-ups don’t require instant payment to resolve security threats.
• Countdown timers: Fake alerts often include urgent timers claiming your computer will be “locked” or “damaged” if you don’t act immediately.
• Poor grammar and spelling: Many fraudulent pop-ups contain obvious spelling and grammatical errors.
• Browser-based alerts: Genuine McAfee software notifications appear from the actual installed program, not through your web browser.

Properly close a McAfee-themed pop-up ad

If you see a suspicious pop-up claiming to be from McAfee, here’s exactly what you should do:

1. Close the tab immediately: Don’t click anywhere on the pop-up, not even the “X” button, as this might trigger malware downloads.
2. Use keyboard shortcuts: Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete or Command+Option+Escape (Mac) to force-close your browser safely.
3. Don’t call any phone numbers: Never call support numbers displayed on the pop-ups, as these connect you directly to scammers.
4. Avoid downloading software: Don’t download any “cleaning” or “security” tools offered through pop-ups.
5. Clear your browser cache: After closing the pop-up, clear your browser’s cache and cookies to remove any tracking elements.

Verify your actual McAfee protection status

To check if your McAfee protection is genuinely active and up-to-date:

• Open your installed McAfee software directly: Click on the McAfee icon in your system tray or search for McAfee in your start menu.
• Visit the official McAfee website: Go directly to mcafee.com by typing it into your address bar.
• Log into your McAfee account: Check your subscription status through your official McAfee online account.
• Use the McAfee mobile app: Download the official McAfee Mobile Security app to monitor your protection remotely.

Remember, legitimate McAfee software updates and notifications come through the installed program itself, not through random browser pop-ups. Your actual McAfee protection works quietly in the background without bombarding you with alarming messages.

Crush fake tech support pop-ups

Stay protected by trusting your installed McAfee software and always verifying security alerts through official McAfee channels such as your installed McAfee dashboard or the official website.

1. Close your browser safely. If you see a fake McAfee pop-up claiming your computer is infected, don’t click anything on the pop-up. Instead, close your browser completely using Alt+F4 (Windows) or Command+Q (Mac). If the pop-up does not close, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and end the browser process. This prevents any malicious scripts from running and stops the scammers from accessing your system.
2. Clear browser permissions. Fake security pop-ups often trick you into allowing notifications that can bombard you with more scam alerts. Go to your browser settings and revoke notification permissions for suspicious sites. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Notifications, then remove any unfamiliar or suspicious websites from the allowed list.
3. Remove suspicious browser extensions. Malicious extensions can generate fake McAfee alerts and redirect you to scam websites. Check your browser extensions by going to the extensions menu and removing any you don’t recognize or didn’t intentionally install.
4. Reset your browser settings. If fake pop-ups persist, reset your browser to its default settings to remove unwanted changes made by malicious websites or extensions, while preserving your bookmarks and saved passwords. In most browsers, you can find the reset option under Advanced Settings.
5. Run a complete security scan. Use your legitimate antivirus software to perform a full system scan. If you don’t have security software, download a reputable program from the official vendor’s website only, such as McAfee Total Protection, to detect and remove any malware that might be generating the fake pop-ups.
6. Update your operating system and browser. Ensure your device has the latest security and web browser updates installed, which often include patches for vulnerabilities that scammers exploit. Enable automatic updates to stay protected against future threats.
7. Review and adjust notification settings. Configure your browser to block pop-ups and block sites from sending you notifications. You could be tempted to allow some sites to send you alerts, but we suggest erring on the side of caution and just block all notifications.

Steps to take if you visited or purchased from a fake site

Be prepared and know how to respond quickly when something doesn’t feel right. If you suspect you’ve encountered a fake website, trust your instincts and take these protective steps immediately.

1. Disconnect immediately: Close your browser by using Alt+F4 (Windows), Ctrl + W (Chrome), or Command+Q (Mac) on your keyboard.
2. Run a comprehensive security scan: If you suspect a virus or malware, disconnect from the internet to prevent data transmission. Conduct a full scan using your antivirus software to detect and remove any potential threats that may have been downloaded.
3. Contact your credit card issuer: Call the number on the back of your card and report the fraudulent charges for which you can receive zero liability protection. Card companies allow up to 60 days for charge disputes under federal law and can refund payments made to the fake store. Consider requesting a temporary freeze on your account while the investigation proceeds.
4. Cancel your credit card: Request a replacement card with a new number to give you a fresh start. Your card issuer can expedite the request if needed, often within 24-48 hours.
5. Document everything thoroughly: Save all emails, receipts, order confirmations, and screenshots of the fake website before it potentially disappears. This documentation will be crucial for your chargeback and insurance claims, and any legal proceedings.
6. Update passwords on other accounts: Scammers often test stolen credentials across multiple platforms, so if you reused the same password on the fake site that you use elsewhere, change those passwords immediately. Enable two-factor authentication on important accounts like email, banking, and social media.
7. Stay alert for follow-up scams: Scammers may attempt to contact you via phone, email, or text claiming to “resolve” your situation through fake shipping notifications, additional payments to “release” your package, or “refunds” on your money in exchange for personal information.
8. Monitor your credit and financial accounts. Keep a close eye on your bank and credit card statements for several months and place a fraud alert on your credit reports through one of the three major credit bureaus—TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. Consider a credit freeze for maximum protection.
9. Check for legitimate alternatives. If you were trying to purchase a specific product, research authorized retailers or the manufacturer’s official website. Verify business credentials, secure payment options, and return policies before making new purchases.

Report a scam website, email, or text message

• Federal Trade Commission: Report fraudulent websites to the FTC, which investigates consumer complaints and uses this data to identify patterns of fraud and take enforcement action against scammers.
• FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center: Submit detailed reports to the ICc3 for suspected internet crimes. IC3 serves as a central hub for reporting cybercrime and coordinates with law enforcement agencies nationwide.
• State Attorney General: If the fake store claimed to be located in your state, consider reporting to your state attorney general’s office, as these have dedicated fraud reporting systems and can take action against businesses operating within state boundaries. Find your state’s reporting portal through the National Association of Attorneys General website.
• Domain registrar, hosting provider, social media: Look up the website’s registration details using a WHOIS tool, then report abuse to both the domain registrar and web hosting company. Most providers have dedicated abuse reporting emails and will investigate violations of their terms of service. If the fake page is on social media, you can report it to the platform to protect other consumers.
• Search engines: Report fraudulent sites to Google through their spam report form and to Microsoft Bing via their webmaster tools to prevent the fake sites from appearing in search results.
• The impersonated brand: If scammers are impersonating a legitimate company, report directly to that company’s fraud department or customer service. Most brands have dedicated channels for reporting fake websites and will work to shut them down.
• Share your experience to protect others: Leave reviews on scam-reporting websites such as the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker or post about your experience on social media to warn friends and family. Your experience can help others avoid the same trap and contribute to the broader fight against online fraud.
• Essential evidence to gather:

• • Full website URL and any redirected addresses
  • Screenshots of the fraudulent pages, including fake logos or branding
  • Transaction details, if you made a purchase (receipts, confirmation emails, payment information)
  • Email communications from the scammers
  • Date and time when you first encountered the site
  • Any personal information you may have provided

• Additional reporting resources: The CISA maintains an updated list of reporting resources while the Anti-Phishing Working Group investigates cases of the fake sites that appear to be collecting personal information fraudulently. For text message scams, forward the message to 7726 (SPAM).

Final thoughts

Recognizing fake sites and emails becomes easier with practice. The key is to trust your instincts—if something feels suspicious or too good to be true, take a moment to verify through official channels. With the simple verification techniques covered in this guide, you can confidently navigate the digital world and spot fake sites and emails before they cause harm.

Your best defense is to make these quick security checks a regular habit—verify URLs, look for secure connections, and trust your instincts when something feels off. Go directly to the source or bookmark your most-used services and always navigate to them. Enable two-factor authentication on important accounts, and remember that legitimate companies will never ask for sensitive information via email. Maintaining healthy skepticism about unsolicited communications will protect not only your personal information but also help create a safer online environment for everyone.

For the latest information on fake websites and scams and to report them, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s scam alerts or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

The post Ways to Tell if a Website Is Fake appeared first on McAfee Blog.

How to Protect Your Social Media Passwords with Multi-factor Verification

Two-step verification, two-factor authentication, multi-factor authentication…whatever your social media platform calls it, it’s an excellent way to protect your accounts.

There’s a good chance you’re already using multi-factor verification with your other accounts — for your bank, your finances, your credit card, and any number of things. The way it requires an extra one-time code in addition to your login and password makes life far tougher for hackers.

It’s increasingly common to see nowadays, where all manner of online services only allow access to your accounts after you’ve provided a one-time passcode sent to your email or smartphone. That’s where two-step verification comes in. You get sent a code as part of your usual login process (usually a six-digit number), and then you enter that along with your username and password.

Some online services also offer the option to use an authenticator app, which sends the code to a secure app rather than via email or your smartphone. Authenticator apps work much in the same way, yet they offer three unique features:

• They keep the authentication code local to your device, rather than sending it unencrypted over email or text.
• This makes it more secure than email- and text-based authentication because they can be intercepted.
• It can also provide codes for multiple accounts, not just your social media account.

Google, Microsoft, and others offer authenticator apps if you want to go that route. You can get a good list of options by checking out the “editor’s picks” at your app store or in trusted tech publications.

Whichever form of authentication you use, always keep that secure code to yourself. It’s yours and yours alone. Anyone who asks for that code, say someone masquerading as a customer service rep, is trying to scam you. With that code, and your username/password combo, they can get into your account.

Before we talk about multi-factor verification, let’s talk about passwords

Passwords and two-step verification work hand-in-hand to keep you safer. Yet not any old password will do. You’ll want a strong, unique password. Here’s how that breaks down:

• Strong: A combination of at least 12 uppercase letters, lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers. Hacking tools look for word and number patterns. By mixing the types of characters, you break the pattern and keep your account safe.
• Unique: Every one of your accounts should have its own password. Yes, all. And if that sounds like a lot of work, a password manager can do the work for you. It creates strong, unique passwords and stores them securely.

Now, with strong passwords in place, you can get to setting up multi-factor verification on your social media accounts.

Multi-factor authentication for Facebook

1. Click on your profile picture in the top right, then click  Settings and Privacy.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Accounts Center, then click Password and Security.
4. Click Two-factor authentication, then click on the account that you’d like to update.
5. Choose the security method you want to add and follow the on-screen instructions.

When you set up two-factor authentication on Facebook, you’ll be asked to choose one of three security methods:

• Tapping your security key on a compatible device.
• Login codes from a third-party authentication app.
• Text message (SMS) codes from your mobile phone.

And here’s a link to the company’s full walkthrough: https://www.facebook.com/help/148233965247823

Multi-factor authentication for Instagram

1. Click More in the bottom left, then click Settings.
2. Click See more in Accounts Center, then click Password and Security.
3. Click Two-factor authentication, then select an account.
4. Choose the security method you want to add and follow the on-screen instructions.

When you set up two-factor authentication on Instagram, you’ll be asked to choose one of three security methods: an authentication app, text message, or WhatsApp.

And here’s a link to the company’s full walkthrough: https://help.instagram.com/566810106808145

Multi-factor authentication for WhatsApp

1. Open WhatsApp Settings.
2. Tap Account > Two-step verification > Turn on or Set up PIN.
3. Enter a six-digit PIN of your choice and confirm it.
4. Provide an email address you can access or tap Skip if you don’t want to add an email address. (Adding an email address lets you reset two-step verification as needed, which further protects your account.
5. Tap Next.
6. Confirm the email address and tap Save or Done.

And here’s a link to the company’s full walkthrough: https://faq.whatsapp.com/1920866721452534

Multi-factor authentication for YouTube (and other Google accounts)

1. Open your Google Account.
2. In the navigation panel, select Security.
3. Under “How you sign in to Google,” select 2-Step Verification > Get started.
4. Follow the on-screen steps.

And here’s a link to the company’s full walkthrough: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185839?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop

Multi-factor authentication for TikTok

1. TapProfileat the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap the Menu button at the top.
3. Tap Settings and Privacy, then Security.
4. Tap 2-step verification and choose at least two verification methods: SMS (text), email, and authenticator app.
5. Tap Turn on to confirm.

And here’s a link to the company’s full walkthrough: https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/personalized-ads-and-data/how-your-phone-number-is-used-on-tiktok

The post How to Protect Your Social Media Passwords with Multi-factor Verification appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Could Your Social Media History Come Back to Bite You?

Eight tips for smarter posting

1. Vet your content. Ask yourself some key questions: Is there anything in this post or comment that could hurt me in the future? Does this post defame a specific race, religion, or lifestyle? Is this content contributing to the conversation or just noise?

2. Be Careful with Humor: Not everyone shares your sense of humor. What seems funny today could be viewed differently in the future. Just look at how comedians and public figures are often held accountable for jokes or comments made years ago.

3. Don’t pick at it—purge it. No doubt, people change. You may not be the 20-something hothead who began tweeting or blogging nearly a decade ago, but your archives are still out and say otherwise. In her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, some of which we can apply here.  1) Don’t analyze everything and just pair down — purge. 2) Get rid of anything that doesn’t spark joy for you 3) Don’t ask yourself what you like about a photo or post, ask yourself  ‘Why should this stay?’ 4) Keep only the content that makes you happy or inspires you. Chop everything else.

4. Use X’s advanced search. Some of us have tweeted out several novels worth of content. Who has time to go through that? Twitter has advanced search features that will help you quickly find questionable tweets. Just go to https://twitter.com/search-advanced and enter keywords and phrases, along with your user account name. This search will help isolate tweets that could be compromising.

5. Am I being true to who I am? Most tweens and teens are not asking themselves this question, but we can still encourage our kids to engage in this specific self-reflection. Encourage young publishers to think about what message and image they hope to project to go through their archives with that in mind. Encourage them to review everything about their profiles from their bio to the kinds of movies and books they’ve called out, to their Facebook groups. Ask: Is this still who you are? Are these still the interests you’d like to project?

6. Delete immediately:

• Inactive social media accounts
• Provocative or inappropriate photographs, videos, or posts
• Posts or photos that include drinking or using drugs
• Discriminatory comments related to race, religion, gender, etc.
• Content that complains about a previous employer or colleague
• Posts that are overly cynical, grumpy, or mean

7. Review likes and post privacy settings. Even the posts of others (that are marked public) that you like or comment on will show up on Google, which means others could judge you guilty by association. It may be time-consuming, but you can clean up your Facebook ‘like’ history in the Activity Log. If you want to share but still limit who can view your posts, McAfee’s Social Privacy Manager helps you adjust your social media privacy settings based on how public or private you want to be online.

8. Google yourself. See what comes up. Be sure to check images, videos, news, and more tabs. You just never know what content will make it into remote circles. If you find something surprising, contact the site host and request they remove the content.

The post Could Your Social Media History Come Back to Bite You? appeared first on McAfee Blog.

How Secure is Video Conferencing?

For millions of people, it’s not a workday without it — video conferencing. And plenty of business gets done that way, which has made conferencing a target for hackers. That then begs the important question, how secure is video conferencing?

The answer is pretty secure if you’re using a reputable service. Yet you can take further steps to keep hackers and party crashers out of your meetings.

Why would someone want to crash your meeting? 

Hackers and party crashers are likely motivated by one of two things: financial gain or mischief.

Given that some meetings involve confidential or sensitive info, someone might have financial motivation to join in, spy on, or record the meeting. Recently, we saw the lengths at least one AI company went to when it spied on a competitor’s video conference call.[i]

And of course, some bad actors want to cause a disruption. As we saw in recent years, they’ll barge right into a meeting and create a ruckus with rude speech and other antics.

Falling somewhere in between, some hackers might try to intrude on a meeting and slip a malware-laden attachment into chat.[ii] For one, that can lead to a major disruption. And in a business context, financial disruption as well.

How do they pull it off? The typical avenues of attack apply. They might use stolen or hijacked accounts. The meeting was inadvertently set to “public,” allowing anyone with a link to join. Otherwise, they might compromise a victim’s device to piggyback their way in.

How to protect your video calls

Use a service with end-to-end encryption. 

Put simply, end-to-end encryption provides a solid defense against prying eyes. With it in place, this form of encryption makes it particularly difficult for hackers to tap into the call and the data shared within it. Secure video conferencing should use 256-bit AES GCM encryption for audio and video, and for sharing of screens, whiteboard apps, and the like. On a related note, read the service’s privacy policy and ensure that its privacy, security, and data measures fit your needs.

Make your meetings private and protect them with a password. 

Keep the uninvited out. First, setting your meeting to private (invitees only) will help keep things secure. Some apps also provide a notification to the meeting organizer when an invite gets forwarded. Use that feature if it’s available. Also, a password provides another hurdle for a hacker or bad actor to clear. Use a fresh one for each meeting.

Use the waiting room. 

Many services put attendees into a waiting room before they enter the meeting proper. Use this feature to control who comes in and out.

Block users from taking control of the screen. 

Welcome or unwelcome, you can keep guests from taking over the screen. Select the option to block everyone except the host (you) from screen sharing.

Turn on automatic updates on your conferencing app. 

By turning on automatic updates, you’ll get the latest security patches and enhancements for your video conferencing tool as soon as they become available.

Get wise to phishing scams. 

Some interlopers make it into meetings by impersonating others. Just as bad actors use phishing emails and texts to steal personal financial info, they’ll use them to steal company credentials as well. Our Phishing Scam Protection Guide can show you how to steer clear of these attacks.

Use online protection software. 

Comprehensive online protection software like ours can make for safer calls in several ways. For one, it protects you against malware attacks, such as if a bad actor tries to slip a sketchy download into your meeting. Further, it includes a password manager that creates and stores strong, unique passwords securely. This can help increase the security of your video conferencing account.

Also, get wise to AI deepfakes on video calls

This is a new one. AI deepfake technology continues to evolve, we find ourselves at the point where scammers can create AI imposters in real time.

We’ve seen them use this technology in romance scams, where scammers take on entirely new looks and voices on video calls. And we’ve seen at least one group of scammers bilk a company out of $25 million with deepfaked executives on a call.[iii]

Strange as it might sound, this kind of deepfake technology is possible today. And realizing that fact is the first step toward prevention. Next, that calls for extra scrutiny.

Any time-sensitive info or sums of money are involved, get confirmation of the request. Place a phone call to the person after receiving the request to ensure it’s indeed legitimate. Better yet, meet the individual in person if possible. In all, contact them outside the email, message, or call that initially made the request to ensure you’re not dealing with an imposter.

The safer video conference call

With the right provider and right steps in place, video calls can be quite secure. Use a solution that offers end-to-end encryption, keep your app updated for the latest security measures, and lock down the app’s security settings. Also, recognize that AI has changed the way we look at just about everything online — including people on the other side of the screen. As we’ve seen, AI imposters on calls now fall into the realm of possibility. A costly one at that.

[i] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/07/technology/ai-start-ups-competition.html

[ii] https://www.pcmag.com/news/hackers-circulate-malware-by-breaking-into-microsoft-teams-meetings

[iii] https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/04/asia/deepfake-cfo-scam-hong-kong-intl-hnk/index.html

The post How Secure is Video Conferencing? appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Sharing Isn’t Always Caring: Tips to Help Protect Your Online Privacy

When it comes to protecting your privacy, take a close look at your social media use—because sharing can quickly turn into oversharing.

The term “oversharing” carries several different definitions. Yet in our case here, oversharing means saying more than one should to more people than they should. Consider the audience you have across your social media profiles. Perhaps you have dozens, if not hundreds of friends and followers. All with various degrees of closeness and familiarity. Who among them can you absolutely trust with the information you share?

And you might be sharing more than you think. Posts have a way of saying more than one thing, like:

“This is the pool at the rental home I’m staying at this week. Amazing!” Which also tells everyone, “My home is empty for the next few days.”

“I can’t start my workday without a visit to my favorite coffee shop.” Which also says, “If you ever want to track me down in person, you can find me at this location practically any weekday morning.”

One can quickly point to other examples of oversharing. Unintentional oversharing at that.

A first-day-of-school picture can tell practical strangers which elementary school your children attend, say if the picture includes the school’s reader board in it. A snapshot of you joking around with a co-worker might reveal a glimpse of company information. Maybe because of what’s written on the whiteboard behind the two of you. And in one extreme example, there’s the case of an assault on a pop star. Her attacker tracked her down through her selfie, determining her location through the reflection in her eyes.

The list goes on.

That’s not to say “don’t post.” More accurately, it’s “consider what you’re posting and who gets to see it.” You have control over what you post, and to some degree, who gets to see those posts. That combination is key to your privacy—and the privacy of others too.

Three simple steps for protecting your privacy on social media

1) Be more selective with your settings: Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and others give you the option of making your profile and posts visible to friends only. Choosing this setting keeps the broader internet from seeing what you’re doing, saying, and posting—not to mention your relationships and likes. Taking a “friends only” approach to your social media profiles can help protect your privacy because that gives a possible scammer or stalker much less material to work with. Yet further, some platforms allow you to create sub-groups of friends and followers. With a quick review of your network, you can create a sub-group of your most trusted friends and restrict your posts to them as needed.

2) Say “no” to strangers bearing friend requests: Be critical of the invitations you receive. Out-and-out strangers might be more than just a stranger. They might be a fake account designed to gather information on users for purposes of fraud. There are plenty of fake accounts too. In fact, in Q1 of 2023 alone, Facebook took action on 426 million fake accounts. Reject such requests.

3) Consider what you post: Think about posting those vacation pictures after you get back so people don’t know you’re away when you’re away. Also, consider if your post pinpoints where you are or where you go regularly. Do you want people in your broader network to know that? Closely review the pics you take and see if there’s any revealing information in the background. If so, you can crop it out (think notes on a whiteboard, reflections in a window, or revealing location info). Further, ask anyone you want to include in their post for their permission. In all, consider their privacy too.

Further ways to make yourself more private online

While we’re on the topic, you can take a few other steps that can make you more private online. In addition to your social media usage, other steps can help keep more of your private and personal information with you—where it belongs:

• Skip the online quizzes: Which superhero are you? “What’s your spooky Halloween name?” or “What’s your professional wrestler name?” You’ve probably seen quizzes like these crop up in your feed sometimes. Shadily, these quizzes might ask for the name of the street you grew up on, your birthdate, your favorite song, and maybe the name of a beloved first pet. Of course, these are pieces of personal information, sometimes the answer to commonly used security questions by banks and other financial institutions. (Like, what was the model of your first car?) With this info in hand, a hacker could attempt to gain access to your accounts. Needless to say, skip the quizzes.
• Clean up your personal data trail: When was the last time you Googled yourself? The results might reveal all kinds of things, like your estimated income, the names and ages of your children, what you paid for your home, and, sometimes, your purchasing habits. Who’s collecting and posting this information about you? Online data brokers gather information from all manner of public records. Beyond that, they’ll also gather information from app developers, loyalty cards, and other companies that track your web browsing. Data brokers will sell this info to anyone. Advertisers, background checkers, telemarketers, and scammers too. Data brokers don’t discriminate. Yet you can clean up that information with a Personal Data Cleanup like ours. It scans some of the riskiest data broker sites for your personal info and helps manage the removal for you. ​
• Spend time online more privately with a VPN: A VPN creates an encrypted “tunnel” that shields your activity from cybercriminals so what you do online remains anonymous.​ It helps make you anonymous to advertisers and other trackers too. By encrypting your web traffic requests, a VPN can hide your search habits and history from those who might use that info as part of building a profile of you—whether that’s for targeted ads or data collection that they might sell to brokers for profit. Comprehensive online protection software like ours includes one.

More privacy partly comes down to you

Granted, “social” is arguably the opposite of “private.” Using social media involves sharing, by its very definition. Yet any oversharing can lead to privacy issues.

Maybe you want close friends to know what’s going on, but what about that so-so acquaintance deep in your friends list? How well do you really know them? And to what extent do you want them to know exacting details about where you are, where your kids go to school, and so on? Those are questions you ultimately must answer, and ultimately have some control over depending on what you share on social media.

Also important to consider is this: if you post anything on the internet, consider it front-page news. Even with social media privacy settings in place, there’s no guarantee that someone won’t copy your posts or pics and pass them along to others.

The flipside to the topic of social media and privacy is the platform you’re using. It’s no secret that social media companies gather hosts of personal information about their users in exchange for free use of their platforms. Certainly, that’s a topic unto itself. We cover what social media companies know about you in this article here—along with a few steps that can help you limit what they know as well.

When it comes to your privacy and social media, it depends largely on how you use it. How you use various privacy and audience settings offers one way to manage it. The other is you and the information you put out there for others to see.

The post Sharing Isn’t Always Caring: Tips to Help Protect Your Online Privacy appeared first on McAfee Blog.

How Teens Date in the Digital Age

Falling in love in the internet age is a whole different ball game to the social-media-free ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Awkward calls on the home phone, sending cards in the mail, and making mixtapes were all key relationship milestones back in the days of roller skates. But fast forward to the new millennium and dating is a whole different sport.

No longer are teens relying on their friends and family for introductions to new love interests, it’s all doable online thanks to the plethora of available dating apps and social media platforms. So it’s no surprise that research confirms that meeting online has officially displaced the traditional ways romantic partnerships were formed.

But how does it actually work? How do teens really connect online? Is it just about the dating apps? What about Instagram? Don’t they also use messaging apps to meet? And what does ‘benching’ and ‘beta-testing’ mean?

Ah, yes I know it can feel overwhelming but don’t stress – I got you! I’ve put together all the key information you need to know if you have kids who are starting their online dating journey.

1. It’s Not Just About Dating Apps

When many of us think about online dating, we think about the major dating apps like Tinder and Bumble however that’s actually not where it all happens. In fact, many teens inform me that it really is all about Instagram, Snapchat, and increasingly, TikTok. I am reliably informed that these social media platforms give you a more authentic understanding of someone – great! But, in my opinion, there are potential safety issues with using social media to attract a mate. Particularly, if you have a young, inexperienced teen on your hands.

In order for people to be able to follow you on these platforms (and send you messages), you need to have your profile set to public. So, if you have a young, naïve teen who has their social media accounts set to public to ramp up their love life, then I consider this to be a safety concern. They can receive messages from anyone which is not ideal.

2. Relationships Develop Online – Even If They First Meet In Person

In 2024, chances are your teens will not meet a potential mate in real life (IRL) – it all happens online. But even on the rare chance they do first meet in person, or they eyeball someone they fancy across the school playground, the relationship will develop online. That’s where the magic happens!

So instead of multiple landline telephone calls to friends to ‘suss out’ their crush, they spend multiple hours researching their crush online. They’ll check out and dissect their photos and posts, find all their social media accounts, and then, depending on their level of courage, they may follow all their accounts. Colloquially, this is often referred to as ‘social media stalking’.

3. Liking Posts and Commenting Is How To Get Noticed

Once they’ve built up the courage, teens may start liking the posts of their crush. Some may even go back over old social media posts and photos from several years back to demonstrate their level of interest. This is known as ‘deepliking’. Some teens think this is an effective strategy, others consider this to be off-putting – each to their own!! But the goal here is to put yourself on the radar of your crush.

Now, once the ‘likes’ have gathered some momentum, the teen may decide it’s time to ‘slide into their crush’s DM’s’. Ah – there’s that expression. All it really means is that your teen will send a direct message to their love interest – usually on a social media app such as Instagram or TikTok.

But they may not even need to ‘slide into the DM’s’. I am reliably informed that if you like a few posts of a potential love interest and then, they like a few of yours, you’re flirting and there’s definitely a spark!! The love interest may then just be the one initiating interest.

4. Be Prepared For A Lot Of Messaging

Now, if there is a spark and the crush has replied, the next phase is messaging – and a lot of it! Potentially 1000’s of messages. I have first-hand experience of paying a telephone bill for someone (no names) who was super smitten with a girl in the days before unlimited data. All I can say is ouch!!!

Now this messaging may take place on a social media app, a messaging app such as WhatsApp, Messenger, or even via text. Or possibly even a combination of them all!! The key here is to keep the messaging going to suss out whether there is a vibe!

But the messaging stage is where it can get messy and confusing. It’s not unusual for teens to be messaging with several potential love interests at once – essentially keeping their options open. Some refer to this as ‘beta-testing’, I would refer to it as disrespectful and probably exhausting – but hey, I’m old school! But this is often a reality for many teens, and it can be quite demoralising to feel like you’re being ‘managed’.

5. Let’s Make It Instagram Official

Now, this is a big moment. When your teen and their crush have decided they are exclusive and officially a thing, the next step is to let the world know and make it official. So, they may choose to update their status on their social media platforms to ‘in a relationship’. But if they are after a softer launch, they may simply post a pic of each other, or even together.

6. Is Sexting Really a Thing?

Believe it or not, some teens may never actually meet in real life (IRL) but still be in a relationship. If this is the case then it’s more likely that sexting will be part of the relationship. Research shows that 1 in 3 Aussie teens (aged 14 to 17) have some experience with sexting ie sending, receiving, being asked, and asking for nude pics however I think in reality, it is likely more – not everyone answers surveys honestly!

So, yes sexting does happen and while I wish it just didn’t, we can’t put our heads in the sand. So, I encourage all parents to remind their kids that once they send an image they lose control of it, that not all relationships last forever, and that they should never be coerced into doing something they are not comfortable with. Stay tuned for further posts with more sexting tips!

7. Some Good Things Will Come To An End

At the risk of being a cynic, chances are your child’s teen relationships will probably not last a lifetime. So, how do you break up when you’re a digital native?

Well, before the break-up phase, ‘benching’ can occur. This happens when one partner no longer wants to meet up with the other in person. It may also be the moment when your teen’s messages are no longer returned – this is called LOR – left on read. Most of us would call this ghosting. But regardless of what you call it, it’s not a nice feeling.

Call me old fashioned but I am a big fan of breaking up with your love in person and my boys know that. Tapering off contact or telling someone that the relationship is over via text is disrespectful, in my opinion.

8. Picking Up The Pieces

Helping kids through heartache is tough – I’ve been there!! If your teen is finding life post-relationship hard, why don’t you suggest they delete their social media apps for a week or 2? It’s hard to move on from someone when you are still receiving messages and/or seeing their notifications. It may even be worth unfriending or unfollowing the ex as well.

So, even though the landscape has changed, and the mixtapes have gone, please don’t forget that dating and romance can be super tricky when you are a teen. Not only are you dealing with matters of the heart but in the world’s biggest public forum – the internet. So be kind, gentle, and supportive! And be grateful for the simplicity of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.

Alex xx

The post How Teens Date in the Digital Age appeared first on McAfee Blog.

What to Do If Your Email Is Hacked

I think I could count on one hand the people I know who have NOT had their email hacked. Maybe they found a four-leaf clover when they were kids! Email hacking is one of the very unfortunate downsides of living in our connected, digital world. And it usually occurs as a result of a data breach – a situation that even the savviest tech experts find themselves in.

What is a data breach?

In simple terms, a data breach happens when personal information is accessed, disclosed without permission, or lost. Companies, organisations, and government departments of any size can be affected. Data stolen can include customer login details (email addresses and passwords), credit card numbers, identifying IDs of customers e.g. driver’s license numbers and/or passport numbers, confidential customer information, company strategy, or even matters of national security.

Data breaches have made headlines, particularly over the last few years. When the Optus and Medibank data breaches hit the news in 2022 affecting almost 10 million Aussies apiece, we were all shaken. But then when Aussie finance company Latitude was affected in 2023 with a whopping 14 million people from both Australia and New Zealand, it almost felt inevitable that by now, most of us would have been impacted.

The reality is that data breaches have been happening for years. In fact, the largest data breach in Australian history happened in 2019 to the online design site Canva which affected 139 million users globally. In short, it can happen to anyone, and the chances are you may have already been affected.

Your email is more valuable than you think

The sole objective of a hacker is to get their hands on your data. Any information that you share in your email account can be very valuable to them. Why do they want your data, you ask? It’s simple really – so they can cash in!

Some will keep the juicy stuff for themselves – passwords or logins to government departments or large companies they may want to ’target’ with the aim of extracting valuable data and/or funds. The more sophisticated ones will sell your details including name, telephone, email address, and credit card details to cash in on the dark web. They often do this in batches. Some experts believe they can get as much as AU$250 for a full set of details including credit cards. So, you can see why they’d be interested in you.

The other reason why hackers will be interested in your email address and password is that many of us re-use our login details across our other online accounts. Once they’ve got their hands on your email credentials, they may be able to access your online banking and investment accounts, if you use the same credentials everywhere. So, you can see why I harp on about using a unique password for every online account!

How big is the problem?

There is a plethora of statistics on just how big this issue is – all of them concerning. According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, of all the country’s cybercrime reports in 2024, about 21.9% involved identity theft and misuse. The Australian Bureau of Statistics adds that the identity theft victimisation rate has steadily increased from 0.8% to 1.2% from 2021 to 2024, respectively.

Meanwhile, The Australian Government revealed that at least one cybercrime is reported every 6 minutes, with business email compromise alone costing the national economy up to $84 million in losses. Regardless of which statistic you choose to focus on, we have a big issue on our hands.

How does an email account get hacked?

Hackers use a range of techniques—some highly sophisticated, others deceptively simple—to gain access. It is important to know how these attacks happen so you can stay ahead and prevent them.

• Phishing scams: These are deceptive emails that trick you into entering your login details on a fake website that looks legitimate.
• Data breaches: If a website where you used your email and password gets breached, criminals can use those leaked credentials to try and access your email account.
• Weak or reused passwords: Using simple, easy-to-guess passwords or the same password across multiple sites makes it easy for hackers to gain access.
• Malware: Malicious software like keyloggers can be installed on your computer without your knowledge, capturing everything you type, including passwords.
• Unsecure Wi-Fi networks: Using public Wi-Fi without a VPN can expose your data to criminals monitoring the network.

From email hack to identity theft

Yes, absolutely. An email account is often the central hub of your digital life. Once a cybercriminal controls it, they can initiate password resets for your other online accounts, including banking, shopping, and social media. They can intercept sensitive information sent to you, such as financial statements or medical records.

With enough information gathered from your emails, they can commit identity theft, apply for credit in your name, or access other sensitive services. If you suspect your email was hacked, it’s crucial to monitor your financial statements and consider placing a fraud alert with credit bureaus.

Signs that your email has been hacked

• You can no longer log in. The most obvious sign of an email hack is when your password suddenly stops working. Cybercriminals often change the password immediately to lock you out.
• Friends receive strange messages from you. If your contacts report receiving spam or phishing emails from your address that you didn’t send, it’s a major red flag that someone else has control of your account.
• Unusual activity in your folders. Check your “Sent” folder for messages you don’t recognize. Hackers might also set up forwarding rules to send copies of your incoming emails to their own address, so check your settings for any unfamiliar forwarding addresses.
• Password reset emails you didn’t request. Receiving unexpected password reset emails for other services (like your bank or social media) is a sign that a hacker is using your email to try and take over your other online accounts.
• Security alerts from your provider. Pay attention to notifications about new sign-ins from unfamiliar devices, locations, or IP addresses. These are often the first warnings that your account has been compromised.

Steps to email recovery

If you find yourself a victim of email hacking, these are a few very important steps you need to take. Fast.

Change your password

Using a separate, clean device, this is the very first thing you must do to ensure the hacker can’t get back into your account. It is essential that your new password is complex and totally unrelated to previous passwords. Always use random words and characters, a passphrase with a variety of upper and lower cases, and throw in some symbols and numbers.

I really like the idea of a crazy, nonsensical sentence – easier to remember and harder to crack! But, better still, get yourself a password manager that will create a password that no human would be capable of creating. If you find the hacker has locked you out of your account by changing your password, you will need to reset the password by clicking on the ‘Forgot My Password’ link.

Update other accounts that use the same password

This is time-consuming, but essential. Ensure you change any other accounts that use the same username and password as your compromised email. Hackers love the fact that many people use the same logins for multiple accounts, so it is guaranteed they will try your info in other email applications and sites such as PayPal, Amazon, Netflix – you name it!

Once the dust has settled, review your password strategy for all your online accounts. A best practice is to ensure every online account has its own unique and complex password.

Sign out of all devices

Most email services have a security feature that lets you remotely log out of all active sessions. Once you’ve changed your password, signing out from your email account also signs out the hacker and forces them to log-in with the new password, which fortunately they do not know. These, combined with two- or multi-factor authentication, will help you to regain control of your account and prevent further compromise.

Inform your email contacts

A big part of the hacker’s strategy is to get their claws into your address book to hook others as well. Send a message to all your email contacts as soon as possible so they know to avoid opening any emails—most likely loaded with malware—that have come from you.

Commit to multi-factor authentication

Two-factor or multi-factor authentication may seem like an additional, inconvenient step to your login, but it also adds another layer of protection. Enabling this means you will need a special one-time-use code to log in, aside from your password. This is sent to your mobile phone or generated via an authenticator app. So worthwhile!

Check your email settings

It is common for hackers to modify your email settings so that a copy of every email you receive is automatically forwarded to them. Not only can they monitor your logins to other sites; they can also keep a watchful eye on any particularly juicy personal information. So, check your mail forwarding settings to ensure no unexpected email addresses have been added.

Also, ensure your ‘reply to’ email address is actually yours. Hackers have been known to create an email address that looks similar to yours, so that when someone replies, it will go straight to their account, not yours.

Don’t forget to check your email signature to ensure nothing spammy has been added, as well as your recovery phone number and alternate email address. Hackers also change these to maintain control. Update them to your own secure details.

Scan your computer for malware and viruses

Regularly scanning your devices for unwanted invaders is essential. If you find anything, please ensure it is addressed, and then change your email password again. If you don’t have antivirus software, please invest in it.

Comprehensive security software will provide you with a digital shield for your online life, protecting all your devices – including your smartphone – from viruses and malware. Some services also include a password manager to help you generate and store unique passwords for all your accounts.

Consider creating a new email address

If you have been hacked several times and your email provider isn’t mitigating the amount of spam you are receiving, consider starting afresh. Do not, however, delete your old email address because email providers are known to recycle old email addresses. This means a hacker could spam every site they can find with a ‘forgot my password’ request and try to impersonate you and steal your identity.

Your email is an important part of your online identity so being vigilant and addressing any fallout from hacking is essential for your digital reputation. Even though it may feel that getting hacked is inevitable, you can definitely reduce your risk by installing some good-quality security software on all your devices.

Trusted and reliable comprehensive security software will alert you when visiting risky websites, warn you when a download looks dodgy, and block annoying and dangerous emails with anti-spam technology. It makes sense really – if you don’t receive the dodgy phishing email – you can’t click on it. Smart!

Finally, don’t forget that hackers love social media – particularly those of us who overshare on it. So, before you post details of your adorable new kitten, remember it may just provide the perfect clue for a hacker trying to guess your email password!

Report the incident

Reporting an email hack is a crucial step to create a necessary paper trail for disputes with banks or credit agencies. When reporting, gather evidence such as screenshots of suspicious activity, unrecognized login locations and times, and any phishing emails you received. This information can be vital for the investigation.

• Your email provider: Use their official support or recovery channels immediately. They can help you investigate and regain control of your account. Do not use links from suspicious emails claiming to be from support.
• Financial institutions: If you’ve disclosed sensitive financial information or use the email for banking, contact your bank and credit card companies immediately. Alert them to potential fraud and monitor your statements.
• Friends, family, and contacts: Send a message to your contacts warning them that your account was compromised. Advise them not to open suspicious messages or click on links sent from your address during that time.
• Your employer: If it’s a work email, or if your personal email is used for work purposes, notify your IT department immediately. They need to take steps to protect company data and systems.
• Relevant authorities: For financial loss or identity theft, you can report the incident to authorities like the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or Action Fraud in the UK. This creates an official record and aids in wider law enforcement efforts.

Check if online accounts linked to your email were compromised

• Prioritize critical accounts: Immediately check your online banking, financial, and government-related accounts. Review recent activity for any unauthorized transactions or changes.
• Review social media and shopping sites: Check your social media for posts or messages you didn’t send. Review your online shopping accounts like Amazon for any purchases or address changes you don’t recognize.
• Enable alerts: Turn on login and transaction alerts for your sensitive accounts. This will give you real-time notifications of any suspicious activity in the future.

Should you delete your hacked email account?

Generally, no. Deleting the account can cause more problems than it solves. Many online services are linked to that email, and deleting it means you lose the ability to receive password reset links and security notifications for those accounts.

More importantly, some email providers recycle deleted addresses, meaning a hacker could potentially re-register your old email address and use it to impersonate you and take over your linked accounts.

The better course of action is to regain control, thoroughly secure the account with a new password and multi-factor authentication, and clean up any damage. Only consider migrating to a new email address after you have fully secured the old one.

Future-proof your email after reclaiming control

• Run a full security scan: Before doing anything else, run a comprehensive scan with a trusted antivirus program on all your devices to ensure no malware or keyloggers remain.
• Double-check security settings: Confirm that your recovery email and phone number are correct and that multi-factor authentication is enabled, preferably using an authenticator app rather than SMS.
• Review account permissions: Check which third-party apps and websites have access to your email account. Revoke access for any service you don’t recognize or no longer use.
• Set periodic reminders: Make it a habit to review your account’s security logs and settings every few months to catch any potential issues early.

• Learn to spot phishing: Be skeptical of unsolicited emails asking for personal information or creating a sense of urgency. Check the sender’s address and hover over links before clicking.
• Keep software updated:Regularly update your operating system, web browser, and security software to protect against the latest vulnerabilities.
• Secure your devices: Use comprehensive security software like McAfee+ on all your devices—computers, tablets, and smartphones—to protect against malware, viruses, and risky websites.

Provider-specific email recovery

Each email provider has a specific, structured process for account recovery. It is vital to only use the official recovery pages provided by the service and be wary of scam websites or third-party services that claim they can recover your account for a fee. Below are the official steps of the major providers that you can follow.

Gmail

1. Go to Google’s official Account Recovery page.
2. Enter your email address and follow the on-screen prompts. You will be asked questions to confirm your identity, such as previous passwords or details from your recovery phone number or email.
3. Once you regain access, you will be prompted to create a new password.
4. Immediately visit the Google Security Checkup to review recent activity, remove unfamiliar devices, check third-party app access, and enable 2-step verification.

Yahoo email

1. Navigate to the Yahoo Sign-in Helper page.
2. Enter your email address or recovery phone number and click “Continue.”
3. Follow the instructions to receive a verification code or account key to prove your identity.
4. Once verified, create a new, strong password.
5. After regaining access, go to your Account Security page to review recent activity, check recovery information, and turn on 2-step verification.

Outlook or Hotmail

1. Go to the official Microsoft account recovery page.
2. You’ll need to provide your email, phone, or Skype name, and verify your identity using the security information linked to your account.
3. If you cannot access your recovery methods, you will be directed to an account recovery form where you must provide as much information as possible to prove ownership.
4. After resetting your password, visit your Microsoft account security dashboard to review sign-in activity, check connected devices, and enable two-step verification.

Final thoughts

Your email account is the master key to your digital kingdom, and protecting it is more critical than ever since many of your other accounts are connected with your email. Realizing “my email has been hacked” is a stressful experience, but taking swift and correct action can significantly limit the damage.

By following the recovery steps and adopting strong, ongoing security habits like using a password manager and enabling multi-factor authentication, you can turn a potential crisis into a lesson in digital resilience. Stay vigilant, stay proactive, and keep your digital front door securely locked.

To add another wall of defense, consider investing in a trusted and reliable comprehensive security software like McAfee+. Our solution will help you dodge hacking attempts by alerting you when visiting risky websites, or downloading questionable apps, and blocking malicious emails with anti-spam technology.

The post What to Do If Your Email Is Hacked appeared first on McAfee Blog.

How to Protect Yourself on Social Networks

There are now over 5 billion active social media users worldwide, representing 62.3% of the global population. While social networks serve as valuable tools for staying connected with loved ones and documenting life events, the ease of sharing information raises concerns. With a mere few clicks, posts and messages can inadvertently divulge significant personal details, potentially compromising privacy and leaving individuals vulnerable to identity theft. That’s why it’s crucial to make sure you’ve got the know-how to keep your privacy protected while using these platforms.

To empower you in this digital age, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide featuring ten essential tips to fortify your online security and preserve your privacy on social networks:

1. Remember the internet is permanent: Assume that once you put information on the site, it stays there forever. Even if you delete the account, you don’t know if someone has already printed or copied your text or photos off of it.
2. Be selective when accepting a friend: Do you really know that their profile is real and not fake? Only “friend” people you know in the real world.
3. Exercise caution when clicking on links: Even if a friend shares a link, be cautious. Hackers prey on social networks because you are more likely to click on something from your friends. Be wary of offers with the word “free” in them. Something that sounds too good to be true usually.
4. Manage your privacy settings: Make sure that you are only sharing information with friends and family and check them regularly in case there are any changes. McAfee+ Social Privacy Manager can help you easily adjust more than 100 privacy settings across your social media accounts in just a few clicks.
5. Be aware of the fact that the information you share on one social network may be linked to another: For instance, depending on your settings, a photo you post to Instagram Stories may automatically be posted to your Facebook profile.
6. Don’t reveal personal information: Be suspicious of anyone who asks for your personal information online and never share your home address, phone number, Social Security number, or other personal identifying information.
7. Turn off the GPS function on your smartphone camera: If you plan to share images online, make sure that you turn off the GPS on your device to keep your exact location private.
8. Don’t enable auto login: Make sure that you don’t have your apps set to automatically log you in and that you don’t have your computer’s browser “remember” your login and password. That way if someone does get access to your devices, they can’t automatically access your social sites.
9. Change your passwords frequently: Choose hard-to-guess passwords that are at least eight characters long and a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, and change them regularly. Also, make sure you use different passwords for each account. A strong password generator can help you create a secure password.
10. Close old accounts that you don’t use anymore: Don’t risk leaving personal data in an old account, such as a MySpace page you haven’t used in years, or on an online dating site you no longer need. Instead, close the accounts you don’t use and delete as much personal information from them as possible.

Whether you’re a seasoned social media user or just dipping your toes into the digital waters, these strategies will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to safeguard your online identity effectively. With the added support of McAfee+, you can ensure an extra layer of security to keep your online presence more secure and private through advanced privacy features, 24/7 identity monitoring and alerts, and real-time protection against viruses, hackers, and risky links.

The post How to Protect Yourself on Social Networks appeared first on McAfee Blog.

Why You Need a Personal VPN

It used to be the case that only businesses used virtual private networks (VPNs) to connect securely to the internet and keep their private data safe. But these days, with the rapid growth of online threats and privacy concerns, even casual internet users should seriously consider using a VPN. Nearly 30% of people now use VPNs for personal reasons, and that number is only growing as more people learn about how VPNs offer an effective way to safeguard online privacy, enhance security, and protect against various cyber threats.

If you are not familiar with this technology, a VPN essentially allows you to send and receive data across a public network as if it were a private network that encrypts, or scrambles, your information so others cannot read it. Let’s take a look at the top 3 reasons why a VPN could come in handy for you.

1. You work remotely—If you like to take your laptop or mobile device to the library or cafe, you probably connect through public Wi-Fi. The problem is that many free, public Wi-Fi networks are not secured. This means that a hacker could easily intercept the information you send over the public network, including your passwords and banking information. A personal VPN means you can connect securely any time you are away from home.
2. You want full access to the internet when traveling— When traveling, cybersecurity risks abound, from unsecured public Wi-Fi networks to potential data breaches. Using a VPN while traveling can mitigate these risks by encrypting your internet connection and protecting your sensitive information from hackers and other malicious actors.
3. You take your privacy seriously— Internet service providers (ISPs) often track and store information about what we do online, as do the websites we visit. This is how they serve up targeted ads and make money when we click on them. (They track us by identifying the unique number assigned to your device, called an Internet Protocol address.) However, when you use a VPN, your traffic is routed through different Internet Protocol addresses, making you anonymous.

What to look for in a VPN:

Now that you know why having a personal VPN is so useful, here are a few tips to help you choose the right product for you:

• Ease of use—You want secure technology, without having to be a tech whiz to use it. That’s why you should look for a product that is easy to implement, like the McAfee Safe Connect VPN app, which allows you to easily and securely connect, ensuring that your passwords and data stay private when using public networks.
• Robust security—Look for a VPN with bank-grade encryption. This way no one can read or access the private information you send over the network.
• Access to virtual locations—With this feature, you can gain full access to the Internet and browse anonymously.

The post Why You Need a Personal VPN appeared first on McAfee Blog.