Clicks of the Trade

3 Tips to Spot a Phony Phishing Website on the Internet

Phishing is a criminal activity where scammers use the Internet to fraudulently lure people to reveal personal identity data and financial information. Scammers often send emails with links to fraudulent websites in an attempt to steal financial data. Here are three tips to spot a phony phishing website on the Internet.

Check URL

A URL is the address for a website. Phishing scammers often misspell common words in a URL that appears legitimate to navigate users to a fraudulent webpage. For example, the url https://www.bankofamerica.com is a legitimate website. A scammer may eliminate the “i” in America and unsuspecting users may click on a link received in an email without noticing the missing letter.

2. Check if “https://” is in the Address Bar

Banking and financial transaction websites use the secure encrypted “https://” instead of the unsecure “http://”. Phishing scams that direct people to phony websites on the Internet are often not encrypted and use “http” instead of “https.”

3. Check for Valid SSL Certificate

To verify if a website has a valid secure socket layer (SSL) certificate, in most web browsers you can right click on the webpage, click on properties or view page info, click on security if needed, then click on view certificates. Some banking websites may contain a lock icon at the bottom right of the page. You can verify that the icon is valid by clicking on it which will direct you to the security page. Phony websites often have fake lock icons that shows no information when you point your mouse on the icon or click on it.

Filed Under: Computer, Internet, World Wide Web Tagged With: Internet, Phony Phishing, Website

How Tablet Computers are Replacing the PC

Image via Wikipedia

In the 1980s computers were bulky and rather unstylish. The 90s is considered the dawn of the information age and laptop computers became the next big thing. Now in the new millennium, computers are smaller than ever before and tablet computers like the iPad are becoming increasingly popular. Here are some ways tablet computers are replacing the traditional PC.

Gaming

Gaming is currently the number one activity performed on tablet computers. In a March 2011 tablet survey conducted by Google Admob, 84 percent of consumers use their tablet computer for gaming. With the explosion of apps, developers are constantly unleashing new games, such as the popular Angry Birds. With so many tablet gamers, playing games on a traditional PC is becoming outdated.

Email Usage & Web Browsing

Emailing and web browsing currently holds the second and third spot respectively for tablet activity. The 2011 Google Admob survey revealed that 78 percent of consumers use their tablet for emailing and 74 percent use for surfing the Internet. The survey also revealed that personal PC usage declined 77 percent after purchasing a tablet computer.

Home Usage

More and more people are moving away from use of a desktop computer at home and are using their tablet instead. The Google Admob survey reported that 82 percent of consumers are using their tablets primarily at home. Another tablet study conducted by Nielsen reported that 51 percent of tablet owners use their device in bed. The top three reasons why people like using their tablet computers at home as reported by Nielsen includes, ease of carrying, ease of interface and fast start-up.

Filed Under: Computer, History of Computer, Internet, Software Tagged With: Computers, PC, tablet survey

Playing Online vs. Playing on Your Computer

With the Internet and today’s technology, there are many options when it comes to playing games. You can play games online or you can download games and play them on your computer.

Advantages to Playing Games Online

There are a few advantages to playing a game online. For one, when you play games online, including bingo games, you don’t have to worry about installing the game on your hard drive. When you install a game, you have to worry about things such as whether you have a compatible operating system and whether you have room on your hard drive for the game’s file and information. Additionally, when there are updates, you have to go back to the game’s website and download these updates and install them.

Sometimes, when you install new programs, there are conflicts between the program files and other files on the computer which can lead to your computer not running efficiently. Also, you might have issues with certain programs slowing your computer down.

Advantages to Playing Games on Your Computer

The number one advantage to playing games on your computer is being able to play the game no matter what. There are many times, especially while traveling, when you may not have access to the Internet. When this happens you will still be able to play the game on your computer.

Another advantage with playing on your computer is you can save things such as high scores and game preferences, which you are not able to do online.

Overall, whether you play online or on your computer depends on which advantages are more beneficial to you and your circumstances.

Filed Under: Computer, Internet Tagged With: Computer, Playing Online

Spending Time On The Computer

In the early 1990s, only twenty years ago, the average household didn’t have a personal computer in it. Today, it seems the average household has a personal computer for every member of the family. America has gone from a society that uses computers lightly to a society that uses computers regularly. Many studies have been conducted and according to an article in the New York times kids spend 7.5 hours a day using some form of media. In that 7.5 hours they consume 11 hours of media because they take in media from different sources simultaneously. So, the question arises, whether you are a child or an adult, how much time on the computer is too much.

For many adults, their job takes place primarily on a computer. This means that the computer time for them starts off on a week day at 7 hours. In the study listed above we are talking about television, MP3 players, telephones, and computers. These activities can include anything from playing bingo games or researching information for work. All of these things are not completely different in that you are spending your time relating to or through an electronic device rather than person to person, person to book, person to dog, and the list goes on and on. Some are of the opinion that this is too much, that this is having a negative effect on humanity. Others don’t want to hear it and are happy with there opportunity to spend his or her time as that individual sees fit.

The debate can rage and there are opinions that make sense on both sides, but for parents wondering how to make a decision to limit their child’s media use, a choice must be made. The important part of making this decision is first of all knowing your kids. If that is the problem and you think, all of the devices are to blame here is a suggestion. Rather than limiting the use of devices, find a way to get to know your kids, even by requiring family time spent engaged in an activity. The device is maybe not the enemy, spending time with your kids is the goal.

Filed Under: Computer Tagged With: Computer

Bingo Strategies

On the surface, bingo appears to be simply a game of chance with no strategy or competitive element, but nothing could be further from the truth. Players who win big at online bingo know how to play well and how to get the fastest payout. If you want to increase your chances of winning at bingo here are a few suggestions to get you on the right track.

1) Purchase the right number of cards

Statistically, the more cards you have, the more likely you are to win; however, the more cards you have, the harder they are to keep track of. And one missed number can cost you the game. So make sure you only purchase the number of cards that you can concentrate on at one time.

2) Pay attention

This may seem like obvious advice, but there are many people who lose at bingo games simply because they aren’t paying attention. You may get a diagonal bingo without realizing, or you may simply miss a letter and number combination and lose your chance at a big pile of cash. If you have problems concentrating, it may be best to find an online bingo site that will automatically fill out your cards for you.

3) Always call

If you are unsure that you have a bingo, call it anyway. If you are wrong, nothing changes. But if you are right — and don’t call — you will have missed your chance to win.

Bingo is more than a game of chance, it takes concentration and focus to win big. You can take that advice all the way to the bank.

Filed Under: Advacements, General Tagged With: Bingo

Protecting Yourself Against Potential Online Scams

Online gambling might seem all fun and games, but if you are not a vigilant Internet user, it could lead you to fall prey to an Internet scam. While most online gambling sites are legitimate and scam-free, there are some that are designed to scam people out of their money or steal their personal information.

Here is a look at some ways you can enjoy your online casino or sports betting sites and not fall victim to potential scams.

Avoid Giving Personal Information

Many online gambling sites will not need to know your social security number, cell phone number, address, and mother’s maiden name. If an online gambling website is asking for this type of information up front, it has the potential to be an Internet scam.

Secure Internet Connection

Many malicious gambling sites don’t ask for personal information but will plant malicious programs, such as malware or viruses, onto your computer. These programs can destroy your computer or steal your information without you knowing it. A secure Internet connection will help prevent the installation of any malicious computer programs onto your computer.

Don’t Loan Money

Avoid loaning any money, whether it is cash or credit card numbers, to people you meet in online casino rooms. Chances are you will never be repaid the money you lent out.

You can also avoid online gambling scams by playing on reputable sites like BetUS.Com or Intertops. You can tell a reputable sites by reading other players’ reviews online or by making sure it is recommended by other online casino review blogs/websites.

Filed Under: General, Internet Tagged With: Internet Connection, Protecting

Tips to Optimize Your Internet Job Search Using Social Media Websites

Image by fredcavazza via Flickr

The job market is more competitive today than it has ever been before. Job search strategies are evolving from the traditional method of posting resumes on job search websites to using social media websites that has revolutionized the Internet industry. Here are some tips to optimize your Internet job search using social media.

Create a Professional Profile on Social Media Websites

Recent surveys in 2010 showed that 92 percent of employers are searching for candidates using social media websites like LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a website that’s geared towards professionals connecting. A great benefit of LinkedIn is getting recommendations from your contacts for your work history. This will help boost your credibility with employers. You can also create a professional profile on other social websites like Facebook and Twitter.

Visit Employers Social Media Page

Most companies nowadays have a Facebook, Twitter or YouTube page. The next time you visit a potential employers website, check to see if they have links to their social media pages. Or you can simply do a search for the company you’re interested in directly on those social websites. Utilizing a potential employers social page will allow you to network with employees and clients. This can get you a step closer to the hiring manager for your desired position.

Subscribe to Employers RSS Feeds

RSS stands for really simple syndication. Companies use RSS feeds to release up-to-date information about business ventures, products or services. Subscribing to an employer’s RSS press feed will not only keep you informed but you can use this knowledge to your advantage when writing your cover letter and on interviews.

Filed Under: Advacements, Internet Tagged With: Internet, Job Search, Websites

Borrowing Online

Sometimes in life, you just have to borrow some money to get you through to your next regular paycheck. While this is unfortunate, you cannot always help the curve balls that life is going to throw your way. When you take out a payday loan, it can be a stressful process, and it can even be an insecure one if the company does not run a tight ship. Fortunately, there are many options available that can help you keep the process simple, secure and speedy.

For starters, look online for fax-less lenders. For one thing, many people no longer have fax machines because they no longer have landline telephones. For another thing, fax machines do not send your information (such as your bank statements and identification) in a non-secure way, so anybody could intercept it and use it against you later. But being fax less is not the only benefit of working with an online lender. It is also a whole lot faster and easier to deal with them than it is to stand in a line at a brick-and-mortar shop.

Using an online company also prevents other mishaps. When you are physically carrying your information, it can always fall away and go unnoticed…except to an identity thief. As far as the waiting in line thing goes, you are also going to save yourself a lot of time if you just don’t do it. Don’t you have better things to do than hang out waiting in a line somewhere?

With a company like PayDay One, you can sit in the comfort of your own home and get your application filled out, filed and approved. The lender will direct deposit the funds within the specified time frame. This is a whole lot easier than being handed a big wad of cash, and it can let you pay bills faster.

The Internet makes borrowing emergency cash easy and secure. It may be just what you need.

Filed Under: General, Internet Tagged With: Borrowing, Internet, payday loan

The Benefits Of Learning Online

There are many benefits of learning online, and many busy people find that this type of education works best for them. Sites like earnmydegree.com can show you all of the online options that are available, and many of them surprise people. In fact, online learning offers some of the highest quality education that is offered today, with some online school receiving higher accreditation than many brick and mortar schools.

Why Online Works For People

Online education offers people the luxury setting their own schedules, having the flexibility with completing classes, in some case as long as six months, and the option to work completely independently, or with a team environment. The other major benefits that online education offers are the saving of a regular tuition. Because online schooling is low cost on the facilities, and professors are hired as adjuncts, there is little to no overhead for many of the high quality schools. This is also true of schools that are outsourcing as a satellite institution.

Online degrees are becoming high demand options because businesses are utilizing the convenience for the purpose of continuing education for their employees. The affordability and flexibility makes this a winning choice. Showing that you already have an online degree is a great way to make yourself appealing and valuable to a company that is striving to get their employees ready for the technological age that business is so geared for. Online degrees also show a savvy for technology that is already present, showing companies that you are ready to jump in.

Filed Under: Computer, Internet Tagged With: Computer, Online, Online degrees