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I think I could count on my 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.
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 a piece, 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 affected, it almost felt inevitable that by now, most of us would have been impacted.
But these were the data breaches that grabbed our attention. The reality is that data breaches have been happening for years. In fact, the largest data breach in Australian history actually happened in May 2019 to the online design site Canva which affected 137 million users globally including many Aussies.
So, in short – it can happen to anyone, and the chances are you may have already been affected.
The sole objective of a hacker is to get their hands on your data. And any information that you share in your email account can be very valuable to them. But 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. But the more sophisticated ones will sell your details including name, telephone, email address, and credit card details, and 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 these login details across our other online accounts too. So, once they’ve got their hands on your email credentials then they may be able to access your online banking and investment accounts – the possibilities are endless if you are using the same login credentials everywhere. So, you can see why I harp on about using a unique password for every online account!
There is a plethora of statistics on just how big this issue is – all of them concerning.
According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, there were over 16,000 reports of identity theft in 2022.
The Department of Home Affairs and Stay Smart Australia reports that cybercrime costs Australian businesses $29 billion a year with the average business spending around $275,000 to remedy a data breach
And although there has been a slight reduction in Aussies falling for phishing scams in recent years (down from 2.7% in 2020/1 to 2.5% in 2022/3), more Australians are falling victim to card fraud scams with a total of $2.2 billion lost in 2023.
But regardless of which statistic you choose to focus on, we have a big issue on our hands!
If you find yourself a victim of email hacking there are a few very important steps you need to take and the key is to take them FAST!!
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 at least 8-10 characters with a variety of upper and lower case 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.
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 still 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, please 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.
A big part of the hacker’s strategy is to ‘get their claws’ into your address book with the aim of hooking 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.
Yes, multi-factor authentication (or 2-factor authentication) adds another step to your login but it also adds another layer of protection. Enabling this will mean that in addition to your password, you will need a special one-time use code to log in. This can be sent to your mobile phone or alternatively, it may be generated via an authenticator app. So worthwhile!
It is not uncommon 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 for other sites, but they’ll keep a watchful eye over any particularly juicy personal information. So, check your mail forwarding settings to ensure no unexpected email addresses have been added.
Don’t forget to check your email signature to ensure nothing spammy has been added. Also, ensure your ‘reply to’ email address is actually yours! Hackers have been known to create an email address here that looks similar to yours – when someone replies, it goes straight to their account, not yours!
This is essential also. If you find anything, please ensure it is addressed, and then change your email password again. And if you don’t have it – please invest. Comprehensive security software will provide you with a digital shield for your online life. McAfee+ lets you protect all your devices – including your smartphone – from viruses and malware. It also contains a password manager to help you remember and generate unique passwords for all your accounts.
If you have been hacked several times and your email provider isn’t mitigating the amount of spam you are receiving, then consider starting afresh but don’t delete your email address. Many experts warn against deleting email accounts as most email providers will recycle your old email address. This could mean a hacker could spam every site they can find with a ‘forgot my password’ request and try to impersonate you – identity theft!
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. And 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. Comprehensive security software such as McAfee+ will alert you when visiting risky websites, warn you when a download looks ‘dodgy’, and will 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!
And 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!
Till next time
Alex
The post What to Do If Your Email Is Hacked appeared first on McAfee Blog.
As with any major holiday or special occasion, Valentine’s Day is unfortunately not immune to scammers looking for an opportunity to exploit unsuspecting individuals. Their deceitful acts can break hearts and bank accounts. In this article, we spotlight some common Valentine’s Day scams, offer tips on how to protect yourself and navigate this romantic day with confidence and caution.
Valentine’s Day is a time when love is in the air. It’s a time to express your feelings for that special someone in your life, or perhaps even embark on a new romantic journey. But while you’re busy planning that perfect dinner or choosing the ideal gift, there’s an unromantic side to the day that you should be aware of – the potential for scams.
Scammers, always looking for new ways to trick people into parting with their money, use the heightened emotions of Valentine’s Day to their advantage. They prey on the unwary, the love-struck, and even the lonely – anyone who might let their guard down in the quest for love or the pursuit of the perfect gift. And in our increasingly digital world, these unscrupulous individuals have more ways than ever to reach potential victims.
→ Dig Deeper: AI Goes Dating: McAfee Study Shows 1 in 3 Men Plan to Use Artificial Intelligence to Write Love Letters this Valentine’s Day
Knowledge is power, as the saying goes, and that’s certainly true when it comes to protecting yourself from scams. By understanding the types of scams that are common around Valentine’s Day, you can be better prepared to spot them – and avoid falling victim.
One of the most common Valentine’s Day scams is the romance scam. Scammers, often posing as potential love interests on dating websites or social media, manipulate victims into believing they are in a romantic relationship. Once they have gained their victim’s trust, they ask for money – perhaps to pay for a flight so they can meet in person, or because of a sudden personal crisis. These scams can be emotionally devastating, and they can also result in significant financial loss.
→ Dig Deeper: Fraudulent Adult Dating Services Turn 10 Years Old, Still Evolving
Another popular scam around Valentine’s Day involves online shopping. With many people seeking the perfect gift for their loved ones, scammers set up fake websites that appear to sell everything from jewelry to concert tickets. After making a purchase, the unsuspecting victim either receives a counterfeit product or, in some cases, nothing at all. Additionally, these sites may be designed to steal credit card information or other personal data.
Phishing scams are also common. In these scams, victims receive emails that appear to be from a legitimate company – perhaps a florist or a candy company – asking them to confirm their account information or to click on a link. The goal is to steal sensitive information, such as credit card numbers or login credentials.
While the existence of these scams is unquestionably concerning, the good news is that there are steps you can take to protect yourself. Valentine’s Day should be a celebration of love, not a source of stress and worry.
One of the most important is to be aware that these scams exist and to be cautious when interacting with unfamiliar people or websites. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
When shopping online, make sure the website you are using is secure, and consider using a credit card, which offers greater protection against fraud compared to other forms of payment. Be wary of emails from unknown sources, especially those that ask for personal information or urge you to click on a link.
For shopping scams, it’s recommended to do research on any unfamiliar online retailer before making a purchase. Look for reviews or complaints about the retailer on independent consumer websites. If the website is offering items at a price that seems too good to be true, it likely is. Also, consider the website’s URL. A URL that begins with ‘https://’ indicates that the website encrypts user information, making it safer to input sensitive information than on websites with ‘http://’ URLs.
Forewarned is forearmed, and having advanced strategies to detect and avoid scams is also a strong line of defense. When it comes to online dating, be sure to thoroughly vet any potential romantic interests. This involves doing a reverse image search of profile photos, which can quickly reveal if a picture has been stolen from another online source. Additionally, be aware of red flags such as overly-flattering messages or requests to move the conversation to a private email or messaging app.
McAfee Pro Tip: If you’re considering using one of these for a bit of dating beyond a dating app or simply to stay connected with family and friends, the key advice is to do your homework. Look into their security measures and privacy policies, especially because some have faced security issues recently. For more information, take a look at this article on video conferencing to ensure you can keep hackers and uninvited guests away when you’re chatting.
If you come across a scam or fall victim to one, it’s crucial to report it to the appropriate authorities. This helps law enforcement track down scammers and alert others to the scam. In the U.S., you can report scams to the Federal Trade Commission through their website. If the scam involves a financial transaction, also report it to your bank or credit card company. They may be able to help recover your funds or prevent further losses.
Additionally, take steps to protect yourself after falling victim to a scam. This could involve changing passwords, monitoring your financial accounts for unusual activity, or even freezing your credit. It can also be beneficial to alert your friends and family to the scam, both to protect them and to gain their support and assistance in dealing with the aftermath of the scam.
→ Dig Deeper: How To Report An Online Scam
The unfortunate reality is that scammers are ever-present and always looking for new ways to exploit unsuspecting victims. However, by being informed, cautious, and proactive, you can significantly decrease your chances of falling victim to a Valentine’s Day scam. Whether you’re looking for love or shopping for the perfect gift, remember to always prioritize your safety and security.
And if you do encounter a scam, take comfort in knowing that you’re not alone and there are resources available to help. McAfee’s blogs and reports are just some of them. By reporting scams to the authorities, you’re doing your part to help stop scammers in their tracks and protect others from falling victim. Remember, Valentine’s Day is a day for celebrating love, not for worrying about scammers. Stay safe, stay informed, and don’t let a scammer ruin your Valentine’s Day.
Remember to always stay vigilant. Protect your heart and your bank account, and make sure your Valentine’s Day is filled with love and happiness, not regret and frustration. Don’t let scammers break your heart or your bank account – on Valentine’s Day or on any other day.
The post Valentine’s Alert: Don’t Let Scammers Break Your Heart or Your Bank Account appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Bullying is a pervasive problem in our society, occurring in schools, workplaces, online, and even within families. It can cause immense physical and emotional pain, leading to decreased self-esteem, increased anxiety, and even suicide in extreme cases. Given its severe potential consequences, it’s critical for every one of us to take steps to end the hate and stomp out bullying.
This article explores 10 ways in which you can stand up against bullying, ranging from individual actions to community-based initiatives. Remember, each effort counts. Together, we can create a world where respect, kindness, and acceptance rule over hate and intimidation.
Before we delve into the various ways to combat bullying, it’s important to first understand what it is. The World Health Organization defines bullying as “repeated exposure to negative actions from one or more individuals.” These actions may involve physical aggression, verbal abuse, intentional exclusion, public humiliation, or harmful manipulation.
Understanding the nature and effects of bullying is the first step in combating it. Recognizing the signs of bullying is essential in identifying victims or perpetrators. Those who are bullied often exhibit signs such as unexplained injuries, poor performance or attendance at school or work, changes in eating habits, or sudden loss of friends. On the other hand, those who bully often exhibit increased aggression, difficulty accepting responsibility for their actions, and a constant need to dominate or control others.
Education is a powerful tool in the fight against bullying. By educating yourself about different forms of bullying, its impact, and why it happens, you can better understand the reasons behind these harmful behaviors and approaches to address them. Learn about not just physical and verbal bullying, but also cyberbullying, sexual bullying, prejudicial bullying, and relational aggression.
There are plenty of resources available that can help increase your understanding of bullying. Anti-bullying organizations offer detailed information on different types of bullying, how to identify them, and ways to prevent them. Books and documentaries can also provide personal narratives and insights into the effects of bullying, giving you a deeper understanding of its impact on individuals.
After educating yourself about bullying, the next step is to raise awareness. By spreading the word about bullying and its harmful effects, you can bring this issue to the forefront of more people’s minds. This can be achieved through discussions, presentations, social media campaigns, or organizing events focused on bullying prevention.
Bullying often thrives on silence and ignorance. By bringing the issue to light, you empower victims, bystanders, and even bullies to change their behaviors and attitudes. Remember, change starts with awareness. The more people know about the issue, the more they can do to help combat it.
→ Dig Deeper: What You Do Now To Protect Your Child From Cyberbullying
Empathy is a powerful weapon against bullying. By empathizing with the victim, you are not only providing emotional support but also validating their feelings and experiences. It can help them feel less isolated and more confident to stand up against the bully.
Showing empathy also extends to those who bully. It’s essential to understand that bullies often act out due to their own difficulties. Demonstrating empathy doesn’t mean condoning their actions, but rather understanding their problems and helping them seek the needed support. It also means helping them realize the harm they’re causing and encouraging them to change their patterns of behavior.
→ Dig Deeper: Digital Strategies to Safeguard Your Child from Upsetting and Violent Content Online
Good behavior is often emulated. Thus, being a good role model can have a significant effect on how others treat people around them. Show respect, kindness, and understanding in your everyday interactions, and stand up against any form of intimidation or humiliation you witness.
If you’re in a position of authority (like a parent, teacher, or manager), your role modeling has an even greater impact. Show how conflicts can be resolved calmly and respectfully, and do not tolerate any form of bullying. This not only creates a positive environment but also teaches others about the importance of respectful interactions.
→ Dig Deeper: Helping Kids Think Critically About Influencers They Follow Online
Encouraging open and honest communication can empower victims and bystanders to speak up against bullying. Many times, children and even adults are afraid to express their feelings or fear being dismissed or ridiculed. By promoting a safe and open communication environment, you can help them voice their concerns and experiences without fear of judgment or backlash.
Remember, communication goes both ways. While it’s important to encourage victims and bystanders to speak up, it’s equally crucial for parents, teachers, and friends to listen actively and offer support, guidance, and intervention if necessary.
Don’t be a silent bystander. If you witness bullying, stand up and speak out against it. Bystander intervention can make a significant difference, as it can deter the bully and comfort the victim. It can also encourage other bystanders to take action. But always ensure your own safety before intervening. If you fear a violent reaction, you should report the incident to a trusted adult or authority figure instead.
Speaking out against bullying also means challenging discrimination and prejudice whenever you encounter them. Whether it’s racism, sexism, homophobia, or any other form of bias, these attitudes often underpin bullying behavior. By challenging them, you’re helping to create a more inclusive and respectful society.
→ Dig Deeper: Instagram Takes Huge Step to Filter Bullies, Become a Kinder Social Hub
If you know someone who is a victim of bullying, reach out to them. Let them know that they’re not alone and that you’re there to support them. Encourage them to report the bullying, and offer to accompany them if they’re anxious about doing so. You can also help by listening to their experiences, validating their feelings, and providing advice or resources for coping with bullying.
Remember, bullying can have a deep psychological impact on its victims. They may be struggling with issues like anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem. So, your support can make a real difference to their mental well-being. If you’re worried about a victim’s mental health, urge them to seek help from a mental health professional.
If you witness or experience bullying, report it to a trusted adult or authority figure. This could be a teacher, school principal, HR manager, or police officer, depending on the context. Many victims of bullying fear retaliation and so, don’t report their experiences. However, reporting can initiate the process of addressing the issue and holding the bully accountable.
When reporting bullying, it’s important to be specific about what happened. Include details like who was involved, when and where it occurred, what was said or done, and whether there were any witnesses. If the bullying is happening online, take screenshots as evidence. Remember, your report can help protect not only you but also other potential victims.
There are many organizations and programs dedicated to preventing bullying and supporting victims. You can support these initiatives in various ways, such as by donating money or time, participating in their events, or spreading the word about their work. By doing so, you can contribute to their efforts to create a bully-free world.
These anti-bullying organizations and programs often provide resources for education, prevention, and intervention, as well as support services for victims. Their work is crucial in raising awareness about bullying, teaching people how to stand up against it, and giving victims the help they need to recover.
Here are some notable anti-bullying organizations and programs:
If you’re a victim of bullying, it’s essential to practice self-care. Bullying can take a toll on your mental and physical health, but taking care of yourself can help you cope with its effects. This could involve activities like exercising, meditating, journaling, or spending time with loved ones. It could also involve seeking help from a mental health professional.
Self-care is equally important for those supporting victims. Standing up against bullying is a daunting task, and it can leave you feeling stressed or overwhelmed. So, make sure to take care of your own well-being too. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
Bullying is a grave issue that affects countless individuals worldwide. Its impacts can be devastating, leading to physical, emotional, and psychological harm. However, each one of us can play a crucial role in combating bullying. By educating ourselves, raising awareness, demonstrating empathy, being good role models, encouraging communication, standing up against bullying, reaching out to victims, reporting incidents, supporting anti-bullying initiatives, and practicing self-care, we can contribute to creating a world free from bullying. Remember, every effort counts. Together, with McAfee, we can end the hate and stomp out bullying.
The post End the Hate: 10 Ways to Stand Up and Help Stomp Out Bullying appeared first on McAfee Blog.
If you are the parent of a tween or teen, you know the challenge of setting and following through with consequences. You’ve worked hard to establish ground rules, but human nature and the sometimes rocky road to maturity guarantees your child will push, step, and even leap outside the agreed-upon lines. If you are like many parents, your first instinct is to restrict the thing they love the most, which is communication with their peers and the dependence they have on their phones.
There are a few problems with taking away your teen’s phone, the first of which, you know well: Taking their phone is hard on you as well because you’ve become just as dependent on instant communication via the phone as they have. Too, if your teen drives a vehicle or is away from home for the day, the phone adds a layer of safety to the family dynamic.
The second hurdle — which you may or may not realize — is that with or without their phones, most teens have created an alternative communication grid that ensures there’s barely a hiccup if anyone gets a phone taken away. To clarify: This post is not an ‘us against them’ post, or an ‘outsmart them’ strategy, it’s simply a dose of reality that may influence and inform everyday parenting decisions.
→Dig Deeper: Should You Use Near-Field Communications?
A few ways kids can maintain their social life without their phones include:
Because schools now require kids to be online to get assignments via internal assignment platforms and email, your child will likely ask you to log onto his or her laptop or family PC to do homework. In doing that, they will also quietly log on to their favorite apps SnapChat, Twitter, or Instagram account, and talk to friends non-stop. Solution: Monitor homework time.
McAfee Pro Tip: Our children who have grown up in the digital age are deeply immersed in smartphone culture. Even if you desire to disconnect and return to a simpler way of life, it would be quite challenging to achieve this while ensuring that your child remains academically competitive with their peers. Get smarter about phones and homework time with our tips.
Kids will also be asked to read or do an assignment via the iPad or tablet; you can’t cut them off from learning, right? Wrong. They can again download their favorite social apps as well as chat apps they hope you know nothing about, such as Kik Messenger. Solution: Monitor homework and TV time.
I hate to make it sound like your kids are part of the teen tech mafia, but they keep their old phones for a reason. While that old iPhone and Android may be without phone service, the social and texting apps on them can still be used—and you can bet they are. Solution: 1) If you are restricting your smartphone, you need to take away the iPod (music) as well 2) Be upfront. Ask your kids if they’ve borrowed a phone 3) Check backpacks for rogue phones.
→ Dig Deeper: The Privacy Problems with Mobile Messaging Apps
Gaming systems have chat and messaging that kids use all the time. In addition, social media and television are now overlapping, so all of the apps you get on your phone can be easily accessed via most TVs. Solution: 1) Go to the network settings on your TV and password protect it 2) Monitor media 3) Take away all media in addition to the phone.
→ Dig Deeper: How To Get Your Head Around Your Kids’ Online Gaming Life
Everything seems quiet on the posting front. You’ve checked, and your child is not posting on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, and you have their phone, so Snapchat is out, right? Not so much. If your kids are logging on to their apps via any of the devices listed above, chances are they know better than to post in the public stream. What they will be doing is using the private messaging of Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (accessed via other devices) as an alternative way to text and communicate without feeling the loss of their personal smartphone.
So what’s the alternative to taking your child’s tech as a consequence? If you know the loopholes listed above, tech restriction is still an option (even though your child will be clearly annoyed with your roadblocks). If your child is over 16 and loves the freedom of driving, that restriction is always an excellent option.
Experts agree: Strong ground rules and equally strong communication provide the best discipline. If family rules are vague or brought up only when your child messes up (i.e., grades, responsibilities, or behavior), he or she will have a tough time staying on track. Look for empowering opportunities for your child to take responsibility for his or her mistakes.
In truth, the only way to ensure appropriate behavior both online and offline is to teach your kids about personal responsibility. This is the key aspect of parenting that sets your child up for success in the real world. The ability to manage themselves, especially when it comes to online activities, is an invaluable life skill that they will bring with them into adulthood. The best way to teach responsibility is to model it. Show them through your actions and decisions that you are worthy of their respect, and they will follow suit.
Teens need to be taught how to behave responsibly online, how to protect their privacy, avoid scams, and how to deal with cyberbullying. They need to understand the consequences of inappropriate behavior online. One good way to teach them about cyber ethics is to have regular discussions about these topics. Create an open environment where they feel comfortable to share their experiences and concerns. Then, guide them on how to respond appropriately to these situations.
Communication is the cornerstone of a healthy relationship between parent and child. As a parent, it’s important to create an atmosphere of trust, openness, and respect. Regular discussions about proper digital etiquette and responsible internet behavior are key. Make time to discuss what your teen is doing online, who they are communicating with, and what type of content they are sharing. Be open about your expectations and why they are in place. If they understand why the rules exist, they will be more likely to follow them.
Consistent communication also enables you to keep up with the rapidly changing digital landscape teens navigate daily. By maintaining an open dialogue, you will be more attuned to the latest apps, games, and social media platforms your teen is using. This way, you can stay informed about developments that might affect your teens’ online safety.
→ Dig Deeper: 10 Easy Ways to Build Up Your Family’s Online Security
Trust is a two-way street. While it’s important that your child trusts you as a parent, it’s equally important for you to demonstrate trust in them. This means giving them some level of freedom and privacy online, while also making it clear that you expect them to act responsibly. Trusting your teens to make good decisions online shows them respect which encourages them to validate your trust.
However, trust is not about blind faith. It’s about setting boundaries and expectations and then allowing your teen to prove they can stay within those boundaries. When trust is breached, it’s important to discuss why it happened, the consequences, and how it can be rebuilt. Trust building is a process, and it takes time and consistency.
Managing your teen’s digital life can be challenging, but with open communication, respect, trust and a strong focus on personal responsibility, you can navigate this digital world together. Ultimately, the goal isn’t to control your teen’s every online interaction. Rather, it’s to equip them with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to navigate the increasingly complex digital landscape safely and responsibly. Removing a teen’s phone may seem like an easy solution, but it’s far more effective to guide them toward responsible digital citizenship.
Take the step to safeguard your teen’s digital journey today, and empower them to thrive in the digital age, all while providing you with the control and confidence you need as a parent. Explore McAfee’s parental controls now and create a secure and nurturing digital environment for your teens.
The post Why Taking Your Teen’s Phone Away Doesn’t Work Anymore appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Given the climate surrounding COVID-19, many of us have had to substitute in-person social interactions with virtual communication. For parents, this includes organizing virtual playdates, hangouts, and video chats for their kids. While this provides an excellent solution for children to continue interacting with their peers, it has also opened up a new avenue for potential risks and dangers. It is imperative to ensure these virtual platforms are safe for all involved. In this article, we will provide some essential strategies for maintaining a secure and enjoyable online social environment for everyone.
The advent of technology has significantly transformed the way we communicate and interact with each other. However, as with any great invention, it also comes with potential risks and dangers, especially for kids who may not fully comprehend the implications of their online activities. With cyberbullying, online predators, and inappropriate content being just a few of the digital risks, it is crucial to establish robust safety measures when kids engage in online social activities such as virtual playdates, hangouts, and video chats.
In this article, we will explore the different ways parents and caregivers can keep these activities secure and fun. By understanding the risks involved, staying informed on the latest developments in online safety, and taking actionable steps, everyone can navigate the digital world safely and confidently.
Navigating the potential pitfalls of online interaction requires proactive measures and informed strategies. Let’s take a look at these tips on how to safeguard everyone from the inherent dangers of virtual communication, promoting a secure and positive digital experience for all.
The first step in ensuring a safe online environment for children is understanding the potential risks and how they can be mitigated. Internet safety is not just about blocking and filtering inappropriate content; it’s also about educating ourselves and our children on how to behave responsibly online and understanding the potential repercussions of our digital footprint.
Online activities, especially those involving video chats, can expose children to various risks, including cyberbullying, identity theft, and exposure to inappropriate content. These risks can have devastating consequences on a child’s mental health, self-esteem, and overall well-being. As such, it is vital for parents and caregivers to have regular conversations about these potential dangers with their children. It’s also crucial to ensure that children feel comfortable expressing any concerns or reporting any uncomfortable situations they encounter online.
→ Dig Deeper: Messenger Rooms: New Video Chat Option is Fun But Has Risks
The market is flooded with countless communication platforms, each with its features, safety measures, and potential loopholes. As a parent, choosing the right tool for your child’s online activities can be quite overwhelming. Not all platforms are created equal, and while some prioritize user safety and provide robust parental controls, others may not provide the same level of security.
When choosing a platform for your child’s virtual playdates or hangouts, consider aspects like age restrictions, privacy settings, and whether the platform allows parental controls. Additionally, evaluate the platform’s reputation regarding safety – a quick internet search can provide insights into any security issues or breaches the platform may have had in the past. Remember, the goal is to create a safe and enjoyable online experience for children.
One of the essential ways to ensure online safety for kids is by properly setting up privacy settings and parental controls on the communication tools they use. These settings can limit what information is shared and with whom, restrict access to certain content, and even set time limits for usage. Parental controls are a fantastic way of managing and monitoring your child’s online activities without being overly intrusive.
However, it’s important to note that these controls and settings are not foolproof. They should be used in conjunction with open communication and education about online safety. It’s essential to explain to children why these measures are in place, rather than just imposing them. They are more likely to follow these guidelines if they understand their purpose.
McAfee Pro Tip: Parental controls are effective in monitoring children, but nothing beats proactive digital parenting. Managing digital parenting doesn’t need to be daunting, especially when you approach it step by step. Know how parental controls and digital parenting can help create good habits.
Establishing clear guidelines for online communications is another critical aspect of ensuring a secure online environment for kids. These guidelines should be age-appropriate and cover aspects like sharing personal information, accepting friend requests, and how to behave respectfully online.
It’s also important to educate kids on the permanence of their online activities. Once something is shared online, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to completely remove it. They should understand the potential impact of their online behavior on their future, such as college admissions or job opportunities. Encouraging safe and responsible online behavior can go a long way in mitigating many of the potential risks associated with online communication.
→ Dig Deeper: Teens’ Online Behavior Can Get Them in Trouble
In addition to safety measures, it’s also important to establish some etiquette for virtual playdates to ensure they are enjoyable and respectful for everyone involved. These guidelines should include respecting others’ time, muting when not speaking to avoid background noise, and understanding when to use the chat feature versus when to speak up.
It’s also important to discuss how to handle disagreements or misunderstandings that may arise during these virtual gatherings. Encourage kids to express themselves respectfully and listen to others’ perspectives. Remind them that it’s okay to disagree with someone but that it should be done in a respectful and kind manner.
Depending on the age of your child, you may need to monitor the amount of time they spend on virtual activities. It’s easy for kids to lose track of time when they are engrossed in a fun virtual playdate or hangout. Setting and enforcing time limits can help prevent screen addiction and ensure your child has a balanced life with ample time for physical activities, schoolwork, and offline social interactions.
To make this process easier, you can use the built-in screen time management features available on most devices or utilize third-party apps that provide more detailed monitoring and control. Talk to your child about the importance of balancing online and offline activities. Make sure they understand that these limits are set out of concern for their well-being, not as a form of punishment.
Just like offline interactions, teaching kids to be respectful in their digital communications is crucial. They should understand that the same rules of kindness and respect apply, whether they’re interacting with others face-to-face or through a screen. Cyberbullying is a significant concern for many parents, and teaching children to treat others respectfully can help mitigate this risk.
Encourage your child to empathize with others by imagining how they would feel if the roles were reversed. Foster an online culture of acceptance, understanding, and respect by setting a positive example through your own online interactions. Remember, kids often emulate the behavior they see around them.
→ Dig Deeper: 5 Digital Family Values to Embrace to Make the Internet a Better Place
Open communication is the key to any successful relationship, and this holds true for your relationship with your child. Encourage them to talk to you about their online experiences, both good and bad. This can help you identify any potential problems before they escalate and provide guidance on how to handle various situations.
Ensure your child feels comfortable coming to you with any issues or concerns they may have. Make it clear that you’re there to help, not to chastise them for making mistakes. Remember, the online world can be a confusing and intimidating place for kids, and they need to know they have a trusted adult to turn to when they need help navigating it.
The online world is constantly evolving, so staying up-to-date with the latest safety tips is crucial. Regularly check reliable online safety resources and learn about the latest threats, trends, and best practices. This can help you prepare for and mitigate potential risks before they impact your child.
Consider joining online communities where parents share tips and advice about online safety. These platforms can be a great source of information and support as you navigate the digital world with your child. Remember, knowledge is power, and the more informed you are, the better you can protect your child.
In conclusion, ensuring online safety during virtual playdates, hangouts, and video chats involves a combination of selecting the right communication platforms, using privacy settings and parental controls, establishing guidelines for online communications, and promoting open, respectful interactions. As parents and caregivers, it’s essential to remain vigilant and proactive in teaching our children about online safety.
However, it’s equally important to remember that our ultimate goal isn’t to eliminate all online risks but to create a balance where our kids can enjoy the benefits of the virtual world while being mindful of its potential pitfalls. By employing the strategies discussed in this article, you can provide a safe and enjoyable online environment for your child, fostering their growth and development while ensuring their safety.
The post Keeping Virtual Play Dates, Hangouts, and Video Chats Safe for Everyone appeared first on McAfee Blog.
With the reality of the digital age, the internet has become a vital part of our daily lives. While it offers immense benefits, the online world also has its potential risks. One such alarming issue involves extremist groups targeting impressionable teenagers online. An example of this is the Orlando nightclub massacre, where the gunman was believed to have been radicalized online. This guide aims to shed light on how these extremist groups operate and provide helpful measures for parents to protect their children.
According to experts, extremist groups approach their targets subtly, often presenting their ideologies as non-threatening at first. These manipulations are not limited to only social media platforms, such as Facebook or Twitter, but can be encountered in various forms like pop-up ads, hashtags, blog posts, and even videos. Extremist content is widespread online, and it has become increasingly crucial to educate your family about these threats.
Influence from these groups does not happen overnight. It often starts with behavioral changes. Common signs that a teen may be exposed to extremist ideologies include physical changes, sudden interest in fundamental values, increasingly critical towards the U.S., or constantly praising extremist violence in the news. These changes may seem minor at first, but they can lead to sinister results if left unchecked.
ISIS, among other extremist groups, has used the internet extensively for propaganda and recruitment. Their online presence is state-of-the-art and their recruitment methods are sophisticated. They primarily target impressionable teens and young adults who are often at the peak of their emotional turmoil and rebellion. They capitalize on the young person’s desire for acceptance, camaraderie and the urge to act out.
Extremist ideology is presented in a way that validates and glorifies this rebellion, treating it as an act of bravery. These groups lure in both males and females with promises of material rewards, eternal favor, adventure, and even heroism. All these appeal to the human desire for acceptance and significance, making it more appealing for impressionable youths.
The Family Institute for Online Safety (FOSI) released a report entitled “Violent Extremism: The New Online Safety Discussion”. It highlighted the ongoing threat of online extremism and the potential exposure of children to extremist content. The report recommends proactive measures such as awareness, education, and collaboration among government, community leaders, and social media companies to keep families safe from these threats.
Parents play a critical role in curbing this menace. They need to discuss current world events and the reliability of online content their children might encounter online. They should help their children develop critical thinking skills about the content they consume online, understand the motivations behind posted content and the potential manipulation involved.
As a parent, it is important to observe your child’s online behavior. This does not imply invading their privacy but rather maintaining open communication about their online activities. As recommended by the FOSI report, parents should be aware of the sites their children visit and the content they consume. Encourage your child to discuss questionable content or unusual interactions they encounter online. This open communication helps build trust and promotes a safer online environment.
Teaching your children about digital footprint is also essential. Explain how their online behavior can have real-life consequences. This can range from damaging their reputation to attracting unwanted attention from malicious figures, such as those from extremist groups. Encourage them to think twice before posting or responding to content online, and remind them that nothing they do online is truly hidden or erased.
→ Dig Deeper: 6 Tips to Help Protect and Improve Your Child’s Online Reputation
There are numerous online resources available to assist parents in mitigating the influence of online extremism on their children. These include guides on dealing with tragedy and resources to help identify and address childhood depression. Utilizing these resources can equip parents with the knowledge to address difficult situations appropriately and limit the impact on their child’s mental health. Here are some sources you might want to check out:
→ Dig Deeper: Does Your Child Have an Unhealthy Relationship with Social Media?
The digital age brings with it immense benefits and potential risks. Online extremism is a real threat, but proactive and involved parenting can help minimize its influence on our children. By staying informed about extremist tactics, maintaining open dialogue with our children about their online activities, and utilizing available resources, we can help ensure their online safety. After all, armed with knowledge and understanding, we are well-equipped to face, address, and overcome these challenges.
Improve yours and your children’s understanding of the online world with the help of McAfee. Whether it’s through educational content, parental control solutions, or security features, McAfee empowers both parents and children to make informed decisions, practice responsible online behavior, and stay safe in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
The post How Extremist Groups Target Teens Online appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Reels of another kind rack up the views online. Stories about Facebook Marketplace scams.
Recently, TikTok’er Michel Janse (@michel.c.janse) got well over a million views with a most unusual story about selling furniture on Facebook Marketplace—and how it led to identity theft.
@michel.c.janse oops dont fall for this scam like me
The story goes like this:
A buyer reached out about the furniture Michel was selling, expressed interest, and then hesitated. Why the cold feet? The buyer wanted to speak to Michel on the phone to confirm that Michel was a real person. “Are you OK if I voice call you from Google?” Michel agreed, sent her number, and soon received a text with a Google Voice code. The buyer asked for the code, and as soon as Michel sent it, she got that sinking feeling. “I should have Googled before I did, because something feels really off.”
As she found out, it was. The scammer ghosted the conversation and ran off with the verification code.
This is a variation of the “Verification Code Scam,” where scammers ask you to send them that six-digit code you receive as part of an account login process. Here, scammers send a text message with a Google Voice verification code and ask you to send them that code. With it, they can create a Google Voice number linked to your phone number—and go on to commit other forms of identity theft in your name.
It happens so often that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a page dedicated to the topic. Luckily, Michel got wise quickly enough. She quickly asked for another code and took back charge of that newly created Google Voice account.
This is just one of the many scams lurking about on Facebook Marketplace. Largely, Facebook is a great place packed with lots of great deals, yet you can get stung. But if you know what to look out for, you can spot those scams and steer clear of them when you do.
As the saying goes, buyer beware. And seller too. Scammers weasel their way into both ends of a transaction. Per Facebook, in addition to phishing attacks, scams on Facebook Marketplace take three primary forms:
A buyer scam is: When someone tries to buy or trade items from someone else without paying, resulting in a loss of money for the seller and a gain for the buyer. This might look like a buyer who:
An example, a scammer sends a seller a pre-paid shipping label to mail the item. Then they change the address via their tracking number and claim they never received the goods.
A seller scam is: When someone tries to sell or trade items to someone else without delivering the items as promised, resulting in a gain of money for the seller and a loss for the buyer. This might look like a seller who:
An example, a scammer offers up a game console—one that doesn’t work when you take it home and plug it in.
A listing scam is: When a listing appears to be dishonest, fake, or lures buyers to complete transactions outside Facebook Marketplace. This might look like a listing:
An example, you see a great price on a commuter bike, yet the seller wants to complete the transaction over text. And using a payment form not covered by Facebook’s purchase protection policies, such as Venmo or Zelle.
Like any transaction you make through social media, a few extra steps and a dose of buyer or seller beware can help you make a great purchase or sale. One that’s safe.
You can take three big steps to help set things straight.
Whether shopping on Facebook Marketplace or off, a combination of online protection software and smart habits can help you avoid getting scammed. Further, online protection can provide you with yet more ways of preventing and recovering from identity theft.
We’d like to thank Michel and all the others who have shared their stories. Getting scammed stings. That’s why people often fail to report it, let alone share that it happened to them. Yet scams are crimes. Without question, act and report on a scam for the crime that it is. Get the proper platforms and authorities involved.
Keep in mind the larger picture as well. Scams aren’t always one-offs. Organized crime gets in on scams as well, sometimes on a large scale. By acting and reporting on scams, you provide those platforms and authorities mentioned above with vital info that can help them shut it down.
Your best defenses are your nose and your online protection software. As Michel said, something felt off in her interaction. So, if something doesn’t pass the sniff test, pay attention to that instinct. Shut down that purchase or sale on Facebook Marketplace—and report it if you think it’s a scam. You might save someone else some heartache down the road.
The post How to Look Out For Scams on Facebook Marketplace appeared first on McAfee Blog.
What does a hacker want with your social media account? Plenty.
Hackers hijack social media accounts for several reasons. They’ll dupe the victim’s friends and followers with scams. They’ll flood feeds with misinformation. And they’ll steal all kinds of personal information—not to mention photos and chats in DMs. In all, a stolen social media account could lead to fraud, blackmail, and other crimes.
Yet you have a strong line of defense that can prevent it from happening to you: multi-factor authentication (MFA).
MFA goes by other names, such as two-factor authentication and two-step verification. Yet they all boost your account security in much the same way. They add an extra step or steps to the login process. Extra evidence to prove that you are, in fact, you. It’s in addition to the usual username/password combination, thus the “multi-factor” in multi-factor authentication.
Examples of MFA include:
With MFA, a hacker needs more than just your username and password to weasel their way into your account. They need that extra piece of evidence required by the login process, which is something only you should have.
This stands as a good reminder that you should never give out the information you use in your security questions—and to never share your one-time security codes with anyone. In fact, scammers cobble up all kinds of phishing scams to steal that information.
Major social media platforms offer MFA, although they might call it by other names. As you’ll see, several platforms call it “two-factor authentication.”
Given the way that interfaces and menus can vary and get updated over time, your best bet for setting up MFA on your social media accounts is to go right to the source. Social media platforms provide the latest step-by-step instructions in their help pages. A simple search for “multi-factor authentication” and the name of your social media platform should readily turn up results.
For quick reference, you can find the appropriate help pages for some of the most popular platforms here:
Another important reminder is to check the URL of the site you’re on to ensure it’s legitimate. Scammers set up all kinds of phony login and account pages to steal your info. Phishing scams like those are a topic all on their own. A great way you can learn to spot them is by giving our Phishing Scam Protection Guide a quick read. It’s part of our McAfee Safety Series, which covers a broad range of topics, from romance scams and digital privacy to online credit protection and ransomware.
In many ways, your social media account is an extension of yourself. It reflects your friendships, interests, likes, and conversations. Only you should have access to that. Putting MFA in place can help keep it that way.
More broadly, enabling MFA across every account that offers it is a smart security move as well. It places a major barrier in the way of would-be hackers who, somehow, in some way, have ended up with your username and password.
On the topic, ensure your social media accounts have strong, unique passwords in place. The one-two punch of strong, unique passwords and MFA will make hacking your account tougher still. Wondering what a strong, unique password looks like? Here’s a hint: a password with eight characters is less secure than you might think. With a quick read, you can create strong, unique passwords that are tough to crack.
Lastly, consider using comprehensive online protection software if you aren’t already. In addition to securing your devices from hacks and attacks, it can help protect your privacy and identity across your travels online—both on social media and off.
The post How to Protect Your Social Media Passwords from Hacks and Attacks appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Happy World Social Media Day! Today’s a day about celebrating the life-long friendships you’ve made thanks to social media. Social media was invented to help users meet new people with shared interests, stay in touch, and learn more about world. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, TikTok, LinkedIn, and the trailblazing MySpace have all certainly succeeded in those aims.
This is the first World Social Media Day where artificial intelligence (AI) joins the party. AI has existed in many forms for decades, but it’s only recently that AI-powered apps and tools are available in the pockets and homes of just about everyone. ChatGPT, Voice.ai, DALL-E, and others are certainly fun to play with and can even speed up your workday.
While scrolling through hilarious videos and commenting on your friends’ life milestones are practically national pastimes, some people are making it their pastime to fill our favorite social media feeds with AI-generated content. Not all of it is malicious, but some AI-generated social media posts are scams.
Here are some examples of common AI-generated content that you’re likely to encounter on social media.
Have you scrolled through your video feed and come across voices that sound exactly like the current and former presidents? And are they playing video games together? Comic impersonators can be hilariously accurate with their copycatting, but the voice track to this video is spot on. This series of videos, created by TikToker Voretecks, uses AI voice generation to mimic presidential voices and pit them against each other to bring joy to their viewers.1 In this case, AI-generated voices are mostly harmless, since the videos are in jest. Context clues make it obvious that the presidents didn’t gather to hunt rogue machines together.
AI voice generation turns nefarious when it’s meant to trick people into thinking or acting a certain way. For example, an AI voiceover made it look like a candidate for Chicago mayor said something inflammatory that he never said.2 Fake news is likely to skyrocket with the fierce 2024 election on the horizon. Social media sites, especially Twitter, are an effective avenue for political saboteurs to spread their lies far and wide to discredit their opponent.
Finally, while it might not appear on your social media feed, scammers can use what you post on social media to impersonate your voice. According to McAfee’s Beware the Artificial Imposters Report, a scammer requires only three seconds of audio to clone your voice. From there, the scammer may reach out to your loved ones with extremely realistic phone calls to steal money or sensitive personal information. The report also found that of the people who lost money to an AI voice scam, 36% said they lost between $500 and $3,000.
To keep your voice out of the hands of scammers, perhaps be more mindful of the videos or audio clips you post publicly. Also, consider having a secret safe word with your friends and family that would stump any would-be scammer.
Deepfake, or the alteration of an existing photo or video of a real person that shows them doing something that never happened, is another tactic used by social media comedians and fake news spreaders alike. In the case of the former, one company founded their entire business upon deepfake. The company is most famous for its deepfakes of Tom Cruise, though it’s evolved into impersonating other celebrities, generative AI research, and translation.3
When you see videos or images on social media that seem odd, look for a disclaimer – either on the post itself or in the poster’s bio – about whether the poster used deepfake technology to create the content. A responsible social media user will alert their audiences when the content they post is AI generated.
Again, deepfake and other AI-altered images become malicious when they cause social media viewers to think or act a certain way. Fake news outlets may portray a political candidate doing something embarrassing to sway voters. Or an AI-altered image of animals in need may tug at the heartstrings of social media users and cause them to donate to a fake fundraiser. Deepfake challenges the saying “seeing is believing.”
ChatGPT is everyone’s favorite creativity booster and taskmaster for any writing chore. It is also the new best friend of social media bot accounts. Present on just about every social media platform, bot accounts spread spam, fake news, and bolster follower numbers. Bot accounts used to be easy to spot because their posts were unoriginal and poorly written. Now, with the AI-assisted creativity and excellent sentence-level composition of ChatGPT, bot accounts are sounding a lot more realistic. And the humans managing those hundreds of bot accounts can now create content more quickly than if they were writing each post themselves.
In general, be wary when anyone you don’t know comments on one of your posts or reaches out to you via direct message. If someone says you’ve won a prize but you don’t remember ever entering a contest, ignore it.
With the advent of mainstream AI, everyone should approach every social media post with skepticism. Be on the lookout for anything that seems amiss or too fantastical to be true. And before you share a news item with your following, conduct your own background research to assert that it’s true.
To protect or restore your identity should you fall for any social media scams, you can trust McAfee+. McAfee+ monitors your identity and credit to help you catch suspicious activity early. Also, you can feel secure in the $1 million in identity theft coverage and identity restoration services.
Social media is a fun way to pass the time, keep up with your friends, and learn something new. Don’t be afraid of AI on social media. Instead, laugh at the parodies, ignore and report the fake news, and enjoy social media confidently!
1Business Insider, “AI-generated audio of Joe Biden and Donald Trump trashtalking while gaming is taking over TikTok”
2The Hill, “The impending nightmare that AI poses for media, elections”
3Metaphysic, “Create generative AI video that looks real”
The post Be Mindful of These 3 AI Tricks on World Social Media Day appeared first on McAfee Blog.
The domain name registrar Freenom, whose free domain names have long been a draw for spammers and phishers, has stopped allowing new domain name registrations. The move comes after the Dutch registrar was sued by Meta, which alleges the company ignores abuse complaints about phishing websites while monetizing traffic to those abusive domains.
Freenom’s website features a message saying it is not currently allowing new registrations.
Freenom is the domain name registry service provider for five so-called “country code top level domains” (ccTLDs), including .cf for the Central African Republic; .ga for Gabon; .gq for Equatorial Guinea; .ml for Mali; and .tk for Tokelau.
Freenom has always waived the registration fees for domains in these country-code domains, presumably as a way to encourage users to pay for related services, such as registering a .com or .net domain, for which Freenom does charge a fee.
On March 3, 2023, social media giant Meta sued Freenom in a Northern California court, alleging cybersquatting violations and trademark infringement. The lawsuit also seeks information about the identities of 20 different “John Does” — Freenom customers that Meta says have been particularly active in phishing attacks against Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp users.
The lawsuit points to a 2021 study (PDF) on the abuse of domains conducted by Interisle Consulting Group, which discovered that those ccTLDs operated by Freenom made up five of the Top Ten TLDs most abused by phishers.
“The five ccTLDs to which Freenom provides its services are the TLDs of choice for cybercriminals because Freenom provides free domain name registration services and shields its customers’ identity, even after being presented with evidence that the domain names are being used for illegal purposes,” the complaint charges. “Even after receiving notices of infringement or phishing by its customers, Freenom continues to license new infringing domain names to those same customers.”
Meta further alleges that “Freenom has repeatedly failed to take appropriate steps to investigate and respond appropriately to reports of abuse,” and that it monetizes the traffic from infringing domains by reselling them and by adding “parking pages” that redirect visitors to other commercial websites, websites with pornographic content, and websites used for malicious activity like phishing.
Freenom has not yet responded to requests for comment. But attempts to register a domain through the company’s website as of publication time generated an error message that reads:
“Because of technical issues the Freenom application for new registrations is temporarily out-of-order. Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience. We are working on a solution and hope to resume operations shortly. Thank you for your understanding.”
Image: Interisle Consulting Group, Phishing Landscape 2021, Sept. 2021.
Although Freenom is based in The Netherlands, some of its other sister companies named as defendants in the lawsuit are incorporated in the United States.
Meta initially filed this lawsuit in December 2022, but it asked the court to seal the case, which would have restricted public access to court documents in the dispute. That request was denied, and Meta amended and re-filed the lawsuit last week.
According to Meta, this isn’t just a case of another domain name registrar ignoring abuse complaints because it’s bad for business. The lawsuit alleges that the owners of Freenom “are part of a web of companies created to facilitate cybersquatting, all for the benefit of Freenom.”
“On information and belief, one or more of the ccTLD Service Providers, ID Shield, Yoursafe, Freedom Registry, Fintag, Cervesia, VTL, Joost Zuurbier Management Services B.V., and Doe Defendants were created to hide assets, ensure unlawful activity including cybersquatting and phishing goes undetected, and to further the goals of Freenom,” Meta charged.
It remains unclear why Freenom has stopped allowing domain registration. In June 2015, ICANN suspended Freenom’s ability to create new domain names or initiate inbound transfers of domain names for 90 days. According to Meta, the suspension was premised on ICANN’s determination that Freenom “has engaged in a pattern and practice of trafficking in or use of domain names identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark of a third party in which the Registered Name Holder has no rights or legitimate interest.”
A spokesperson for ICANN said the organization has no insight as to why Freenom might have stopped registering domain names. But it said Freenom (d/b/a OpenTLD B.V.) also received formal enforcement notices from ICANN in 2017 and 2020 for violating different obligations.
A copy of the amended complaint against Freenom, et. al, is available here (PDF).
March 8, 6:11 p.m. ET: Updated story with response from ICANN. Corrected attribution of the domain abuse report.
It all feels so harmless. Who isn’t even alittle curious which celebrity is their look-a-like or what ’80s song best matches their personality? While some of these fun little quizzes and facial recognition-type games that pop up on social media are advertiser-generated and harmless, others have been carefully designed to steal your data.
According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) consumers need to beware with the IQ tests, quizzes that require you to trade information. Depending on the goal of the scam, one click could result in a new slew of email or text spam, malicious data mining, or even a monthly charge on your phone bill.
Besides the spammy quizzes, scammers also use click bait, that are headlines designed to get your click and your data. Such headlines often promise juicy info on celebrities and may even legitimate human interest stories that claim, “and you won’t believe what happened next.” While some of those headlines are authored by reputable companies simply trying to sell products and compete for clicks, others are data traps that chip away at your privacy.
The best defense against click bait is knowledge. Similar to the plague of fake news circulating online, click bait is getting more sophisticated and deceptive in appearance, which means that users must be even more sophisticated in understanding how to sidestep these digital traps.
Our digital landscape is peppered with fake news and click bait, which makes it difficult to build trust with individuals and brands who have legitimate messages and products to share. As you become savvy to the kinds of data scams, your discernment and ability to hold onto your clicks will become second nature. Continue to have fun, learn, connect, but guard your heart with every click. Be sure to keep yor devices protected while you do!
The post Are You Getting Caught by Click Bait? appeared first on McAfee Blog.
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