Guide on Protecting Yourself from Bad/Short Links by bad-apple 2012/01/15 13:53
Every now and then, a user comes along and posts a suspicious link. You don't know where it goes, or what will happen once you go there. I have created this guide to hopefully help with this problem.
1. HOVER OVER THE LINK
If you're not sure about the link that random guy just posted, HOVER OVER IT. Usually you will be able to tell what website was just posted.
Go ahead, hover over this. See what it says? It says http://www.google.com.
2. HAVE AN ANTI-VIRUS
Let's say you happened to click a link and it lead you to a really weird website. You may not think anything of it. Sometimes nothing happens, and other times you won't even know what happened.
Always make sure you are using an anti-virus when using the Internet. Not only is downloading unknown items a bad idea, but so is visiting websites you normally wouldn't visit.
There are many anti-viruses out there. A lot of good ones are free. Here are some (test your hovering abilities by hovering over these links): Microsoft Security Essentials, Avast Antivirus, AVG Antivirus, Sophos AntiVirus for Mac
3. NEVER TYPE IN YOUR INFORMATION
Some websites are designed to steal your information. See that website you just clicked on to get free Microsoft Points? All you have to do is type in your Windows Live ID and password. DON'T DO IT!
First off, nothing is free. If it's too good to be true, it is. Secondly, I assume the majority of you are already connected to Windows Live ID. Almost always you will not need to enter your information again.
If you are ever unsure if you are actually inputting your information into a secure website. Look at the top in the address bar. If it's green, It is secure. If it's not, I suggest getting out of there!
Also, where you are on these connections, try to make sure you are using HTTPS. HTTPS is always secure, and when you input your information it goes through a secure connection to get to where it needs to go. Your address bar(or part of it) should be blue.
4. CHECK OUT SHORT LINKS
I'm sure you've seen people post a link that really short, but it gives no information as to where it's going. Fret not, there are ways to check!
Firefox has a number of add-ons to automatically expand shot URLS: Long URL Please Mod, Expand Short URL, Xpndit Shor URL Expander
Chrome does as well: ViewThru Expand Short URLs, LongURL, Miniscurl URL Expander
There are GreaseMonkey userscripts as well: LongURL Mobile Expander, TinyURL Decoder, LongURL
Every now and then, a user comes along and posts a suspicious link. You don't know where it goes, or what will happen once you go there. I have created this guide to hopefully help with this problem.
1. HOVER OVER THE LINK
If you're not sure about the link that random guy just posted, HOVER OVER IT. Usually you will be able to tell what website was just posted.
Go ahead, hover over this. See what it says? It says http://www.google.com.
2. HAVE AN ANTI-VIRUS
Let's say you happened to click a link and it lead you to a really weird website. You may not think anything of it. Sometimes nothing happens, and other times you won't even know what happened.
Always make sure you are using an anti-virus when using the Internet. Not only is downloading unknown items a bad idea, but so is visiting websites you normally wouldn't visit.
There are many anti-viruses out there. A lot of good ones are free. Here are some (test your hovering abilities by hovering over these links): Microsoft Security Essentials, Avast Antivirus, AVG Antivirus, Sophos AntiVirus for Mac
3. NEVER TYPE IN YOUR INFORMATION
Some websites are designed to steal your information. See that website you just clicked on to get free Microsoft Points? All you have to do is type in your Windows Live ID and password. DON'T DO IT!
First off, nothing is free. If it's too good to be true, it is. Secondly, I assume the majority of you are already connected to Windows Live ID. Almost always you will not need to enter your information again.
If you are ever unsure if you are actually inputting your information into a secure website. Look at the top in the address bar. If it's green, It is secure. If it's not, I suggest getting out of there!
Also, where you are on these connections, try to make sure you are using HTTPS. HTTPS is always secure, and when you input your information it goes through a secure connection to get to where it needs to go. Your address bar(or part of it) should be blue.
4. CHECK OUT SHORT LINKS
I'm sure you've seen people post a link that really short, but it gives no information as to where it's going. Fret not, there are ways to check!
Firefox has a number of add-ons to automatically expand shot URLS: Long URL Please Mod, Expand Short URL, Xpndit Shor URL Expander
Chrome does as well: ViewThru Expand Short URLs, LongURL, Miniscurl URL Expander
There are GreaseMonkey userscripts as well: LongURL Mobile Expander, TinyURL Decoder, LongURL
EpIcInCoGnItO 2012/01/15 19:39
I follow each of these steps. Really needed while browsing to connect with safe experience. Fine one.
I follow each of these steps. Really needed while browsing to connect with safe experience. Fine one.
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