AVG_Anti-Virus
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With the British Royal Wedding set to take place at Westminster Abbey in less than a month, you can bet gossip around the water cooler will only increase. What will Middleton’s wedding gown look like, how many high profile names will be on the guest list? Is there any new news?
As we’ve learned from previous high-profile events, a whole range of websites spring up selling mementos and bringing you the “latest gossip” about the big day. But as the royal frenzy grows and you find yourself browsing, clicking and sharing links, we want to remind you to use caution.
Remember, not all gossip is true and not all websites are as secure as they claim. So how do you know which sites are secure and which aren’t? It’s impossible to guess without anti-virus security software, but your instinct is usually right. As the day approaches here are a few areas where scam artists and hackers might try to trick you.
1. Your social bloodline: Facebook and Twitter. A malicious site can easily be disguised by the shortened links and 140 characters found in Twitter. The same could be said of the many links and ads placed on your Facebook news feed. Don’t let the lure of a juicy tweet or Facebook update infect your PC.
2. Unofficial sites – unless you feel confident browsing, shopping or making reservations outside of your trusted sources, beware of the many sites dedicated to all things royal wedding. Sites can range from dedicated news sources or blogs to a variety of online retail sites.
3. Royal Wedding Memorabilia – Already many sites are offering replicas of the official Royal Wedding China and Kate’s engagement ring in addition to tea towels, mugs, coins and even street party accessories. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to commemorate the historical day, just remember, if the deal is too good to be true, it probably is.
4. Enthusiasm to participate – some people have planned their vacations around the wedding while others plan to enjoy the celebration by throwing a street party and/or watching a live stream of the event. Regardless of how you spend the day, it all starts with a little research. Use caution if that research leads to the use of your credit card or if it requires you to download a file.
5. Streaming live coverage on-the-go. An estimated 1 to 2 Billion people are expected to watch the historical event not only on their TVs and computer screens, but also on their cell phones and iPads. Given the smaller screen it’s harder to see the full link source so make sure you trust your source. Treat these devices as you would your PC.
By keeping in mind these precautions, you’ll have less cause to get cold feet about the big day and more reason to cheer on the happy couple.
Image used under license of Creative Commons courtesy of Ruddington Photos
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