Malvertising: Not All Browser-Based Security Warnings are Legit

This is NOT a real Security Warning; It is an Ad!

If this suddenly popped up while you were browsing, would you think it is legit?

Several days in a row, I have had the Bradenton Herald open in another tab, reached by following a link to read an article. By the time I switched over to the tab, I actually had to use the "Back" button to read the article.

Folks, this is just an ad in disguise. DO NOT be fooled and click on the actual link. This is why so many of us surf using ad-blockers. And in fact, my ad-blocker is being re-enabled on this site, as I am sick of scam ads interupting my news reading.

I do not even use McAfee or recommend it to others. I am not sure if clicking the link would actually bring you to a legit security product. More likely, it would lead to malware, the exact opposite of software that protects your PC.

Do NOT fall for this adware scam!

The Dangers of Internet Quizzes

Are Facebook Quizzes Really Harmless?

People LOVE taking Social Media Quizzes.  Sites like Buzzfeed have entire sections devoted to quizzes.  Facebook timelines are filled with results shared from various quiz-hosting sites.  Quizzes and tests can be great traffic drivers, and from a marketing standpoint, they can be very beneficial to your site.  But what about from a user standpoint?  Are there any dangers of taking these internet tests and sharing the results?  The answer, unfortunately, is neither yes nor no.  There can be great dangers in taking these internet quizzes, or they may be completely harmless.  If you scrutinize before you click, you can easily learn the difference.

What Are Some of the Dangers of Taking a Quiz?

The dangers fall into several categories.  Again, a quiz site may be harmless, and none of these dangers may apply.  Or it may be a complete and total scam site, out to cause you harm.  Most quiz sites fall somewhere between these two extremes. The trick, as with any internet activity, is to be savvy.  You need to arm yourself with the knowledge to evaluate the risks of each individual quiz. This list is by no means inclusive.  It only describes SOME of the dangers you may encounter.

Quick Tip: Stop Window's 10 From Nagging You

Hate those "ads" that pop up when you use non-default programs?

So do I!

I generally like Windows 10, with some minor tweaking, but it DOES have its share of annoyances.  Ever been happily typing away in Chrome or Firefox, when all of the sudden, you are disrupted by a pop-up by your clock, suggesting you try Edge?

When Windows 10 first started showing these "harass boxes," as I like to call them, I immediately ran a malware scan, sure I'd picked up some ad-ware somewhere.   Nope...not malware, but rather a new, "helpful" Windows "feature."All those quotation marks should give you an idea of how much these boxes thrilled me.

So, of course, me being me, I immediately set out to disable these suckers.  Turns out, it's fairly easy.