Online threats and scams are increasingly sophisticated. Our personal and professional information has never been more at risk. One way to bolster online security is through the use of browser bookmarks or favourites. This simple practice offers several advantages over relying on search engine results, manual typing, and potentially unsafe links in messages.
Mitigating Phishing Risks: Phishing attacks are a common method used by cybercriminals to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information. These attacks often involve fraudulent emails or messages that contain links to fake websites mimicking legitimate ones. By bookmarking the real websites of the services you use, you reduce the risk of falling victim to such scams. Bookmarked links are verified and trusted, whereas links from search results or unsolicited messages can lead to malicious sites designed to steal your credentials.
Typosquatting is a technique where attackers create domains that are intentionally similar to legitimate ones, with minor typographical errors, (like arnazon – that’s not an ‘m’). Unsuspecting users who mistype a URL or click on a dubious search result may end up on a typosquatting site that looks very close to the real one. By using legit bookmarks, you bypass this risk, ensuring that you always access the genuine website.
Reducing Exposure to Malware: Search engine results and spam messages can sometimes include links to websites that are infected with malware, leading to the download of harmful software, potentially compromising your system’s security. Bookmarks, on the other hand, provide a direct path to trusted sites, minimizing the risk of encountering malware-laden pages.
Enhancing Convenience and Efficiency: Aside from security benefits, bookmarks also enhance convenience and efficiency. Instead of having to remember or search for URLs each time you need to access a site, you can simply click on your bookmarked link. You would typically only do this for sites you visit often. This not only saves time but also reduces the likelihood of accidentally visiting an unsafe or irrelevant site.
Preventing Redirects to Malicious Sites: Cybercriminals sometimes use malicious redirects to lead users to harmful websites. These redirects can occur through compromised search engine results or deceptive advertisements. This is a very common risk these days. By relying on bookmarks, you minimize the chances of being redirected to malicious sites.
Karl Plesz
Your Productivity Guru
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