There are several hoaxes on the Internet that are ways to either get your mail ID or compromise your computer, at the very least. And more often than not, most of us fall for it. Here are some of these that you should watch out for.
1. Chain mails: Bill Gates giving out money if you put your name and email ID at the bottom of a chain mail, the Lord himself blessing you if you send out the mail to 10 friends, and so on… These hoaxes have already done several rounds of the Internet, and yet they continue. All it does is give the chance of a spammer to get his hands on hundreds and hundreds of valid email IDs. Think back to how many such mails you have blindly forwarded without removing the email IDs of all the others who have received it before you! Even if you do want to keep the chain up, just remember to clean the mail of all the IDs in it – only send the main text!
2. New contacts on the messenger: New people with names you have not even heard of popping up on your instant messenger (IM) are now pretty common. If it’s someone you don’t know at all, it’s best to block the request. IMs are a great way to spread viruses, or worse. So think twice before you add a new unknown contact.
3. Virus found on your PC!: All of a sudden, a browser window pops up which tells you that your PC has a virus, and requests you to run an online scan now to rid of it. Do not fall for it. It could just be a way to install spyware, adware, or worse, viruses and Trojans on your PC. Stick to your trusty updated antivirus software to protect your PC, and don’t believe these online pop-ups.
4. Help!: Several people have been known to get mail from their contacts asking them to send money to bail them out of a jam on a trip abroad. Again, a hoax. It’s best to call up and check with your contact and ask her if she has sent such a mail. Chances are her mailbox has been hacked into and some fraudster is asking you to send money!
5. Fake mail and Websites: Through a technique called mail spoofing you could get mail from a known person, which could eventually lead to a situation like your ID gets stolen, or your PC gets compromised. Similarly, web panels which look eerily like your bank’s online interface could welcome you while surfing the Net. Your bank website will have strong security protocols running, so you will see the padlock sign on your browser status bar, and security certifications on the website. When you get a spoofed site, it is not likely to have such protocols deployed or certifications.
