Online Safety

Anatomy of a Viral Hoax What is real and what is fake? It’s becoming increasingly difficult to separate fantasy from reality online. By now, you’ve probably already run into your fair share of viral hoaxes. Scams, conspiracy theories and fake news spread like wildfire in the modern digital landscape. Real people often fall victim to…

Oh, the internet. The wonderful home of carpool karaoke videos and viral cat memes also has a dangerous dark side. No, I’m not talking about the YouTube comments section. I’m referencing the cold, dangerous world of internet scams. Much like the endless stream of grandmas on Facebook, scams are an inherent part of internet culture.…

Imagine that you’re shopping at a computer store and you present a credit card for payment. The cashier looks at you and asks, “do you have a photo I.D.? “ Even though it might seem a bit inconvenient to dig into your wallet or purse again to get a driver’s license or school I.D., it’s…

Let’s face it — traveling isn’t what it used to be. It’s not just about packing a suitcase full of clothes and a new book or magazines. Today, most of us can’t leave our homes without a laptop, tablet, camera and a smartphone or two. That’s why these travel safety tips are so important, especially…

There’s a new twist on an old adage “let the buyer beware” for the computer age. It’s now “let the Internet browser beware.” That’s because the most likely threat to our online activity doesn’t come from a hacker (some trying to break into a computer network); it comes from a scam artist trying to trick…