The internet is a big, often confusing, place. Hackers and scammers are abundant and getting more clever every day. These people take advantage of your lack of knowledge by “hijacking” you from your desired site and sending you into theirs, allowing them to do many illegal things, from a simple collection of data to credit and identity fraud. This easy guide will help you make sure the site you’re using is real and not a clever trap for the unwary surfer. |
1. Contact the site: Find the site’s contact information and call, write or e-mail them. If you call them and get an automated reply, find out that the line’s disconnected or they don’t work during regular business hours, you can reasonably assume that the site may not be legit. |
2. Is the site verified by Google? Look for the green lock sign by the address, click on it and you’ll see the site’s safety verification and identity verification. |
3. Check Google’s SafeBrowse report: If you can’t find the green lock, simply write ‘https://www.google.com/safebrowsing/diagnostic?site=’ and the site’s address after the “=” sign, and Google will check the site for you. |
4. Use WHOis.com to verify the site: In the website, type the suspicious site’s address in the “Lookup” box and let them validate and asses the site. Look for where the site is located, it’s official contact information and how long has it been owned. (sites located in dubious countries or that have been owned for a short time may be unsafe) |
5. Check the site’s address: If you meant to go to “www.sitename.com” but the address now shows something completely different, there’s a good chance you were redirected and “hijacked” into another site, with a less-than-benevolent intent. |
6. Read the terms and conditions: Before you decide to do business with a site, make sure you read the terms and conditions. If the conditions don’t make sense (for example: the site doesn’t commit to send you the desired merchandise or that they say they can share your information with a 3rd–party) – reconsider giving them your business. |
7. Is the site’s payment system secure?: So far, everything seems legit, and you're at the payment page. Check that the site is secure and uses SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption before typing in any sensitive information like credit card numbers, etc. (A good indicator is if the address starts with “https” and not “http”) |
8. Search the company on major search-engines: See if they’re mentioned anywhere else, look for reviews about the company via multiple sources. Even if the site passed all the previous tests, it’s worth to see if other people have had any kind of negative interaction with it and what the customer feedback looks like. |
Source: WikiHow.com |
Use This Backup Guide to Ensure You Never Lose Files Again
This article wil show you how to create three different backups (a bootable backup, an external backup drive and a cloud backup) for your Windows computer.
I Never Knew Skype Could Do All These Things...
Skype is a fantastic method of communication, allowing people from all over the world to keep in touch. Learn these 7 things you can do with it.
A Complete Guide to Solving Your Problems
Your ability to solve problems, or lack thereof, has a great bearing on whether you can be happy and successful. Try these 3 problem-solving methods.
Computer Guide: How to Format Your Computer - PC & Mac
how do we create a new computer from the old, formatting it and making it work like new? This guide will show you!
How to Choose the Perfect Laptop For Your Needs!
Are you thinking of getting a new laptop but can't wrap your head around all the terms and sizes? This guide will make things easier for you.
Losing Important Emails? Here’s How to Tidy Up Your Gmail
A helpful guide to setting up Gmail filters to prevent emails from getting lost or spam overflowing your inbox.
These Red Flags Indicate That a Shopping Website is Fake!
With online shopping being more prevalent than ever, scams are also on the rise. These are 8 warning signs that a shopping website is fake.
Take an Interactive Tour of 1940s New York!
This interactive street map of New York City in the 1940s is so much fun to browse and explore! And best of all, it's completely free!
Everything You Need to Know About Bitcoin
The following article is an unofficial guide to Bitcoin and will explain everything there is to know about it.
20 Terrifically Helpful Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts
Welcome to the ultimate guide to mastering 20 essential keyboard shortcuts for the Google Chrome browser!
Lesson: How to Protect Your Devices from Hacking
A handy tutorial that we will hope will teach you the right practices to avoid your account ever being hacked.
Visit an Ancient Map Collection With Thousands of Works!
Visit this great, free collection for an enlightening journey through the annals of cartography.
The Best iPhone Tips and Tricks for 2023!
In this video you'll learn a bunch of tips and tricks that have just recently been added.
Computer Guide: How to Format Your Computer - PC & Mac
how do we create a new computer from the old, formatting it and making it work like new? This guide will show you!
The Truth Behind Misleading Phone Charging Myths
We're putting down these rumors once and for all! These cellphone battery charge myths are untrue.
GUIDE: What to Do if Your Online Accounts Have Been Hacked
If you suspect that your account has been compromised or if it becomes evident that it has indeed been hacked, there are certain steps you should take.
9 Underrated Free Websites That Will Make Your Life Easier
Yes, there are still many more useful websites you don’t know about!
Are Your Cables a Mess? 9 Easy Tips to Easily Organize
Organize your messy computer cables with these simple and easy tricks.
Easy Ways to Watch Content from Your Phone on Your TV
Cast and screen share your phone to your TV with these tips.
This Site Will Allow You to Copy the Text Off Any Photo!
We are here to introduce you to a website that can assist in such situations by extracting text from images for easy editing, copying, recording and distribution.
Your iPhone's Volume Buttons Have Tons of Hidden Features!
There is more to your iPhone's volume buttons than you knew about!
Struggle to Remember Your Passwords? These Tips Will Help
Passwords can be difficult to remember at times, but here are some tips that will help.
ISPs Know Everything about You. Here’s How to Stop Them
What VPNs are, and who offers the best VPN service
Guide to Chat GPT: What It Is and How to Use It
This beginner's guide to Chat GPT will help you take your first steps in using this helpful chatbot.
How to Download Streaming Movies for Offline Viewing
Here's how to download movies and TV series from your favorite streaming services to watch them offline.
10 Safe & Free Movie Streaming Sites Anyone Can Use
Check out some of the best free and legal streaming sites for your next binge.
Computer Guide: Windows 11 Shortcut Keys!
Learn the best shortcuts for Windows 11 using your keyboard. From taskbar to screenshots, learn it all.
These Free Apps Turn Your Photos Into Beautiful Paintings
Your photos will look artistic with the help of these free apps.
Overwhelmed by Your iPhone Update? Here's Our Guide
New iPhone update isn't your cup of tea? Here's how to make your iPhone feel more familiar.
Learn All About the Different File Types on Your Computer
Computer extensions can have such confusing names and functions. If you're like me, you will appreciate this guide to 12 different file types!
7 Ways to Send Text Messages From Your Computer
Why use your phone to send an SMS when you have these awesome free websites?
Beyond Chrome: 5 Private Browsers for Better Security
For those who prioritize their online privacy, there are some alternatives to Chrome available that could be explored.
I Never Knew Repairing a Smartphone Was So Simple!
Having phone trouble? Here are 6 of the most common smartphone issues and exactly how you can fix them.
Spotting WhatsApp Spam: 5 Tips for Safe Chatting
Due to WhatsApp's increasing popularity, the number of spam texts in circulation has also grown. Here's how you can spot them.
The Only Guide You Need to Clean Your Computer
Computers collect dust and dirt, causing them to slow down and heat up. Here's how to clean them:
What's the Healthiest Way to Sit at Your Computer?
Learn how to minimise the health risks of using your computer with this positioning guide.
9 Lesser-Known Tips for Using Facebook Messenger
Learn some of the hidden tips and tricks on the popular Facebook Messenger app.
14 Useful Tips & Tricks to Get the Most Out Of Your PC
In this video, you will get to learn about some really handy computer tricks and tips that will make your life easier.
Can A.I. Outperform These 20 Professionals?
Here's a comparison video we're all secretly curious about...
Get the Most From Your Smartphone With These Tips & Tricks
These best tips, tricks and hacks for iPhone, Android, and Samsung users.
Make Everyday Computer Use Easier with These 7 Tools
Windows have many built-in tools that make everyday tasks a lot easier. However, they are difficult to find and use. This guide reveals 7 of them.
Want Windows on Your Mac? It's Now Free!
Need to install Windows 10 on your Mac? It’s quite easy, actually.
There's a keyboard Shortcut for Nearly Everything Here!
These shortcuts will cut down the time you waste fiddling about on the computer, and make you into something of an expert.
7 Things on the Internet Archive You Never Knew You Needed
The Internet Archive offers a lot more than you realized!
BEWARE! These File Types Could Contain Viruses
Be careful before you click any file these days. Hackers may have used them to hide viruses.
6 Ways You're Killing Your PC Without Realizing It
Want your PC to last longer? Stop making these mistakes now!
What Do Those 12 Mysterious 'F' Keys on Your Keyboard Mean?
Find out what those 12 curious F keys on your keyboard mean.