The scariest sites on the net? They're not the ones you might suspect. Here's what to watch for and how to stay safe, in our list of the 17 scariest places on the internet.
They're not the usual suspects... you may be surprised
The internet is something of a security minefield and it's easy to get in trouble.
From Google search results that look as if they answer all your questions but instead do nothing but create a serious tech headache to the hilarious video you, which will cause misery to your system.
You can do everything you can think of to protect yourself and still be taken by a malware infection, a phishing scam, or an invasion of online privacy. We'd like to provide a little help. Here are some of the hazards you may encounter, how dangerous they are, and what you can do to stay out of harm's way.
Threat 1: Malicious Flash files that can infect your PC
The place: Websites that use Flash
Adobe's Flash graphics software has become a big malware target in recent years, forcing the company to push out frequent security patches. But another danger you might not know about is associated with Flash cookies. Flash cookies are small bits of data that their creators can use to save Flash-related settings, among other things. But like regular cookies, Flash cookies can track the sites you visit, too. Worse still, when you delete your browser's cookies, Flash cookies get left behind.
If you have to go there: To help protect against Flash-based attacks, make sure you keep your Flash browser plug-ins up-to-date. And you can configure the Flash plug-in to ask you before it downloads any Flash cookies.
Threat 2: Shortened links that lead you to potentially harmful places
The place: Twitter
Scammers love Twitter since it relies so much on URL shorteners, services that take long internet addresses and replace them with something briefer.
And it's very simple to hide malware or scams behind shortened URLs. A shortened link that supposedly points to the latest Internet trend-du-jour may be a Trojan horse in disguise.
If you have to go there: Simply don't click links. Of course, that takes some of the fun out of Twitter. The other option is to use a Twitter client app. TweetDeck and Tweetie for Mac have preview features that let you see the full URL before you go to the site in question.
Some link-shortening services, such as Bit.ly, attempt to filter out malicious links, but it seems to be a manual process, not an automatic one. TinyURL has a preview service you can turn on.
Threat 3: Email scams or attachments that get you to install malware or give up personal info
The place: Your email inbox
Although phishing and infected email attachments are nothing new, the lures that cybercrooks use are constantly evolving, and in some cases they're becoming more difficult to distinguish from legitimate messages. My junk mailbox has a phishing email that looks like a legitimate order confirmation from Amazon. The only hint that something's amiss is the sender's email address.
If you have to go there: Don't trust anything in your inbox. Instead of clicking on links in a retailer's e-mail, go directly to the retailer's site.
NEXT PAGE: Torrent sites
- They're not the usual suspects
- Torrent sites
- Your smartphone
- Malicious PDFs
- Fake antivirus software
- 'Free electronics' sites
- What happens when you surf unprotected
- Tips from the pros
Comments
Hey Freddy said: Appened to me too Got in trouble couldnt get home got ill fell in de love was robbed and de worst of all got a virus in de laptop sos I cant send no more beggin lettersHow can such tings happen to me just when I was trying to get some help to get 10000000000027 out of de countryUnbelievable innit
Freddy said: Pat will you be sending most of it to your nice Nigerian friend that is in trouble and cant get home is sick is in love with you has been robbed etc etc
pat said: just received on outlook mail a letter from Microsoft Ltd Microsoft Campus Thames Valley Park Reading Berkshire RG6 1WG United Kingdom telling me I won 2million five hundred thousand Great Britton Pounds because my email is a winner
Contax said: Boss Hogg said on Monday 04 October 2010Im OK I never use the internetPlease let me into the secret as I am really puzzled I can not send or receive these messages without going on the internet
Contax said: You warn us about problems with Flash Cookies that can release our secrets but not how how do I remove the FLASH COOKIESI use Cclleaner 2 0r 3 times a day to try and keep things cleanMy Tip for Security always use an on screen keyboard when entering user names amd pass codes for any sites such as online banking as I understand the key loggers cannot monitor this and steal your details hope it helps somone keep safe
Boss Hogg said: Im OK I never use the internet
dremmy said: Here we go again Fear more profit for the corporations You have to laugh if people buy into this fear mongering crap Lol
What the hell is worng with yo said: Ive just come to this page from an email you sent which uses hideous URL redirects to track email conversions This can be done much easier with some clever use of analytics Secondly Your site is disgustingly awful There is more advertising on this site than actual content I will be removing myself from your lists and never coming back17 most dangerious places on the internet is not an acceptable title Its actually 17 of the most malicous activities on the internet YOUR SITE PC ADVISOR is the 18th most dangerous place on the internet Enjoy this comment and goodbye
tim burke said: shoot dem all
tim burke said: shoot dem all
RSebire said: Adware Bots search for open ports data minners find memmory access paths and injecting unsecure code is done as a polymorphic trojanNo real way to protect against Denial Of Service attacks tooVirtulisation is recomendedOh and watch out for analogue servers as they are untaceable