Be careful what you click on

Image Credit: Via designer.microsoft

Links in emails, social media posts, and other online content can sometimes lead to malicious websites. These websites may contain malware that can infect your computer or steal your personal information.

To protect yourself from malicious links, you should:

• Be suspicious of any link that you don't recognize or that takes you to a website that you don't trust.

For example, if you receive an email from a sender you don't know and the email contains a link to a website you've never heard of, it's best to avoid clicking on the link. Even if the email looks like it's from a legitimate source, such as your bank or credit card company, it's still possible that the email is a phishing scam.

• Don't click on links in emails from senders you don't know or trust.

If you do receive an email from a sender you don't know, it's best to hover over the link before you click on it. This will show you the actual URL of the website that the link goes to. If the URL looks suspicious, don't click on it.

• Use a security extension in your browser to scan links for malware.

There are a number of security extensions available for popular browsers, such as Chrome and Firefox. These extensions can help to scan links for malware before you click on them.

• Immediately close the website if you think you've clicked on a malicious link.

If you do click on a malicious link, it's important to take action immediately. Close the website and scan your computer for viruses and malware. You should also change your passwords for your email account, bank account, and other online accounts.

By following these tips, you can help to protect yourself from malicious links.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind about malicious links:

• Malicious links are often disguised as legitimate links. For example, a link that looks like it goes to a Google search results page may actually go to a malicious website.
• Malicious links are often used in phishing attacks.
• Malicious links can also be used to spread malware, such as ransomware and trojans.

If you are ever unsure about a link, it is always best to err on the side of caution and not click on it. By being careful about the links you click on, you can help to protect yourself from malware and other security threats.