Gateway NV52L User Manual page 58

• Guard your email address. Spammers and "phishers" sometimes send
millions of messages to email addresses that may or may not exist in
hopes of finding a potential victim. Responding to these messages or
even downloading images ensures you will be added to their lists for
more of the same messages in the future. Also be careful when posting
your email address online in newsgroups, blogs or online communities.
Online offers that look too good to be true usually are
The old saying "there's no such thing as a free lunch" still rings true today.
Supposedly "free" software such as screen savers or smileys, secret
investment tricks sure to make you untold fortunes, and contests that
you've surprisingly won without entering are the enticing hooks used by
companies to grab your attention.
While you may not directly pay for the software or service with money, the
free software or service you asked for may have been bundled with
advertising software ("adware") that tracks your behavior and displays
unwanted advertisements. You may have to divulge personal information
or purchase something else in order to claim your supposed content
winnings. If an offer looks so good it's hard to believe, ask for someone
else's opinion, read the fine print, or even better, simply ignore it.
Review bank and credit card statements regularly
The impact of identity theft and online crimes can be greatly reduced if you
can catch it shortly after your data is stolen or when the first use of your
information is attempted. One of the easiest ways to get the tip-off that
something has gone wrong is by reviewing the monthly statements
56 - Internet