Encountering malicious websites is one of the top risks of browsing the web. The websites are like digital traps which are craftily hidden with the intent to cause harm to unsuspecting visitors. The worst part is they aren’t easy to spot, which explains why so many people fall victim to them.
Read on to find out what these sites are and how to recognize them so you can steer clear:
So, What Are Malicious Websites?
A malicious website is a site created with the sole purpose of stealing data from users and/or harming their devices. The one thing that makes these sites more harmful than they sound is they typically resemble legitimate websites, making the tricks quite easy to fall for.
Luckily, most of the attacks from malicious websites such as phishing and malware websites require some input from your end. So by being well aware of the risky operations to avoid and using a VPN alongside your security software, you can easily stay safe and browse the internet worry-free.
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How Common Are Malicious Websites?
With attacks from malicious websites becoming all too common, one thing is clear: these sites are growing at an alarming rate. In truth, stats have revealed that over 450,000 malicious programs are detected daily. With such information, we can’t ignore how fast these dangers are spreading.
How to Recognize Malicious Websites
Spotting a malicious website requires a lot of keenness. Unlike fake websites that can be quite easy to recognise, malicious websites have become notably sophisticated and most of them look convincingly real.
Luckily, there are still some pointers to look out for such as:
1. Suspicious URLs
URLs with extra words and characters such as “https://google.something.com,” are often indications that a website is a subdomain of a malicious site. While some domains are legitimate, you will want to take extra precautions when visiting a site with such a URL just to make sure it’s not dodgy.
Also, avoid domain names that try to copy popular websites, only making slight changes to the URLs. A good example is “https://www.tikt0k.com, where the letter “o” has been replaced with the number “0” to make the domain name look legitimate.
2. Unrequired Downloads or Software Prompts
If a site asks you to download a program or run software even when the previous processes weren’t leading to such action, that could be your cue to leave. Never download any smartphone application or computer program without searching for information about it on the internet.
3. Promises of Prizes for Challenges You Weren’t Part Of
Some sites will tempt you with fake prize claims before asking you to provide your personal information to receive the reward or information about the process of claiming it.
If you are sure you haven’t participated in any contests, you shouldn’t expect to win anything out of the blue. But even if you have entered a draw previously, don’t respond to any communication that isn’t through official means.
4. Unbelievable Deals
Any offer that seems too good to be true such as a “today only, 90% off” deal would be a telltale sign of a scam. That’s especially true if you haven’t seen the deal being advertised anywhere else.
Make sure to research first so you can find out whether any of that information is true before clicking on any buttons or providing any information.
5. Fake Security Alerts
Another common indicator of a malicious website is a sudden notification claiming that your device is either infected with malware or that certain software or your operating system is outdated. That should raise your eyebrows especially if you haven’t run a scan on your phone or computer.
6. Unprofessional Designs and Poor Grammar
Most fishy websites are unprofessionally designed, loaded with errors, and have notably poor grammar compared to legitimate websites. You should also look out for other red flags such as your browser’s warning about the website’s security certificate.
Browse With Confidence!
Malicious websites are a serious threat to your data, but there are always precautions you can implement to browse safely. While a VPN won’t protect your information or prevent a malware attack, it can facilitate anonymous browsing so that no one other than the VPN provider has your real browsing information. Combine that with a good antivirus and malware protection tool, and your device becomes impregnable.
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