Be careful when using any type of chat program, if someone sends you a link always confirm that they have actually sent you a link before clicking on it, and that includes clicking on photos too!!!! A virus infection is just a mouse click away.
Facebook, Yahoo Messenger and other Instant messaging programs can easily get you into trouble.... Even if you’re talking with someone you know very well!!
Viruses, spyware, malware....scareware.... whatever you want to call unwanted programs running on your computer; you need to be careful when chatting and surfing online. After all, a virus is just a mouse click away. The story goes something like this.... (cue music)....
Scene one...
So, you come home after a hard day’s work/college/school and turn on your computer. You’re tired and you just want to have a laugh with your friends.... So, you wait patiently for the "puter" to fire up...
oh come on...
it seems to take an age....
it didn't use to be this slow...damn puters, stupid piece a junk
and as if by magic...... Windows appears.......
at last.....
So, after another 5 minutes your computer is about ready for you to start using it when "bing" your friend has sent you a message, you can tell this because of the "bing" noise and the fact that there’s a little flashing icon on your status bar..... so, you click on it and your friend has seen a picture that looks like you on the interweb-thingie...
is this you?
They say with a link to a website...
Scene two
Now, if you were not so tired, and if you had your wits about you, this is when the alarm bells would start to ring....
ding a ling a ling
(Ed. get on with it)... but no, you’re tired and glad that someone is actually sending you a message and after all... it's your friend right!.... and he has seen a picture of you on the web... so... you click.... (pause for atmospheric music)... dumb dumb dumb.... that’s the music, not a comment about you being stupid..... No, wait... it is you being stupid, and as if by magic.... your computer is infected with a virus... which happens to start sending the same silly message to all of your mates in friends list....
Epilogue...
So, the moral of this little story is... always ask your mates if they have just sent a link/photo before clicking on it....after all, do you really want to let criminals loose inside your computer, just waiting for you to enter your bank account password and steal all your money?
A virus is just a mouse click away.... be smart... always confirm....
Happy putting, and stay safe.
(Ed. from an old tv show.... "Let’s be careful out there!") (name that show)
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