Things you shouldn’t do online

We all know that the internet has a lot of positive uses. the internet provides a platform for numerous worthy causes, such as raising awareness, supporting charities, and empowering women. It is a tool of expression, a tool for learning, and a tool of connection, reaching more than 2 billion people worldwide. But it's also true that anything that is capable of some good; it is also capable of some negative activities. And the internet is not by far means from this rule. Internet users can simply click away on their keyboards for mere seconds to cause serious damage to themselves and others, on purpose and completely by accident. So, here we mention some rules that you should avoid to do online.

Let's check out them -

Don't post sensitive photos

We all love to post photos of our vacations, children, and happy times in our lives, with little regard for the price we pay in compromised privacy, Worley says. But you need to think about the price you might potentially pay for being so open. Photos posted while you’re on vacation announce to your community that you’re not home. And photos of children may end up in unsavory places. Worley points to reports about a Utah woman who posted family photographs of her children on Instagram, only to find they had been stolen and posted on child pornography websites.

Don’t diagnose yourself on Internet

In addition to what the website has determined you suffer from, you can now add "increased stress" and “heart attack” to the list. On WebMD, a common case of the sniffles can be diagnosed as one of the telltale symptoms of a rare, incurable, and unpronounceable disease that you've probably never heard of (and probably don't have). Even if you weren't really sick, to begin with, now you are, at least with worry.

Don't download grabby apps

If there’s an app for that, it might know more about you than you’d like, Worley says. A February 2014 Intel report found that - 82% of apps were reading the device identification, 72% knew who your carrier was, 69% track you last known location, 57% were continuously tracking your location, 30% run the apps you use, 28% knew your SIM card number, 25% knew your account number for your account information. Be sure you know what the app is reading and, if it’s gaining access to too much information, don’t download it.

Don't click on email message links

Worley and her husband were waiting for a shipment of garden equipment when they got an email message from FedEx. Or, so it seemed. When he clicked on the link, it took him to a different website that downloaded a rootkit - typically malicious software that can give hackers access to your computer and information. She was able to find and eradicate it, but it just goes to show that you must be vigilant, she says. Instead of clicking on links, which might not take you to the site indicated by the hyperlink text, copy and paste the text into a browser, even if you trust the sender, she says.

Don't talk to strangers

Social networks, WhatsApp… there are now many channels through which strangers can contact your children. The naivety of children often means they aren’t aware of where danger can be lurking. The anonymity afforded by the Internet is almost more dangerous than in real life.

Don't trust Ads

Congratulations! You, like ten million others, are the millionth user of this site! Tell us all about your personal life, and perhaps your PIN number, to win 32 grand! I'm sorry, negative 32 grand. As big a bargain as burning your bankers! Hey, you are getting $1000 dollars! Just click here! Don't do it. Never trust them.

Never respond to spam

Don't fire off an irate missive. Don't reply with "REMOVE" in the subject. All this does is verify for them that your address is owned by a person who actively uses it. That makes it much more valuable when they sell their list to other spammers.

Never share your password

This may sound too simple, too obvious, yet I've seen people do it. "Hey, can I use your [fill in the blank] account?" Sure, it's a good friend asking, but will this person safeguard your security the way you would yourself? Maybe you don't really care about that particular account, but are you sure you haven't used that same password on one, two, or twenty other sites? Sharing is good, in general, but not password sharing.

Don’t get so personal

Similarly, just because your boyfriend dumped you or you have some dirt on the office manager, it doesn’t mean that you have the green light to share unflattering gossip online. ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ is the perfect maxim for the Internet age.

Don't share your journal

You might think that it’s safe to start an anonymous blog all about your life, but be careful. It’s easy to figure out who you are based on a few details. If you do decide to keep an online journal, make sure it’s password protected and only share it with your friends.

Never do your net banking at the public place

Banking over the public WiFi at a coffee house or an Internet café is a seriously bad idea. These networks can be ridiculously insecure. The guy at the next table could be using Firesheep to capture your online session. The sinister café owner could be tracking every packet that passes through the network. Save your online financial transactions for times when you can connect to a secure network.

Don't use free Wi-Fi

The next time you log on to the coffee shop’s free Wi-Fi, don’t ignore that little notice that tells you others might be able to see what you’re viewing, because that’s true, Worley says. If you log on to a free wifi account and then do your banking or buy something online, you may put yourself at risk for being scammed. Worley says she always uses her phone as a mobile hotspot when she’s conducting bank or other sensitive transactions on the go.

Don't buy anything

Don't buy anything on a website where the text is in a language you don't understand.

It may bring up a whole other issue...

Don't share login details, bank details, credit card numbers and so on

This should be a no-brainer. Cutting the long story short, never share such sensitive details on the Internet. And if you should give away such details, check every inch of the website and ensure that it is secure.

Don't share the exact details of your vacation

Nothing says, “Hey, rob my house” like a proud post about an upcoming vacation. You may think you’re just sharing your excitement over an upcoming week of living like you’re in a Jimmy Buffett song. Criminals see that, though, and their eyes turn into dollar signs. It’s basically telling the whole world that no one will be at your house for a week straight. Hard as it may be, keep your vacation plans to yourself. If you must, you can share them with close friends in person or on the phone, but keep that sensitive info off the internet. You never know who might be watching or what bad intentions they might have.

Don’t take pictures of your credit cards

Okay, yes, this seems obvious, but it happens. We’ve all seen those pictures that are captioned, “I got my first credit card today!” Just in case you’re tempted to post something like that, you should know that anyone who has your credit card number and the expiration date can order pretty much anything they want on your dime. It’s just asking for identity theft.

Don’t share inappropriate personal images

Social media is no place for your secret selfies. You might keep a special collection for your girlfriend or boyfriend, but if you don’t want your grandmother seeing them, they shouldn’t go on social media. Actually, that’s a pretty good guideline in general. Only post things you wouldn’t mind your grandmother seeing. That will save you a lot of grief, whether it’s your grandma who stumbles across your posts, a parent or an employer. Use your best judgment! Don't post naked pictures. This is really bad. Bad enough that they have the pictures but it would be really embarrassing. Embarrassing? It's worse than that. It's humiliating.

Don't sync your social media accounts

It’s difficult keeping up with all your social media accounts. Services like Buffer, HootSuite, and Sprout Social help you manage your social presence across several platforms from one dashboard. Unfortunately, some people make the mistake of scheduling the same message across all their profiles. Remember, tweets and Facebook posts are very different things, as are Instagram and Google+. Social media is an art. It’s a little more time-consuming to tailor your announcements to each type of social media, but it’s like the old carpenter’s motto: measure twice, cut once.

 

So, these are some of the many things that you should reconsider before presenting them on the platter to the Internet people. Hope you like this article. If you know about anything else that we missed out to mention, then, share your experience in the comments. Thank you!