Do you bother to check out Links?

nadateturbe It could be the site itself that is dodgy, not the link that takes you there!

FarNorth This web page tells you a lot without bamboozling you. www.readersdigest.co.uk/lifestyle/technology/everything-you-need-to-know-about-internet-security

Along with a lot of other useful info, they repeat what I was saying about sites that start with https being more secure (the s is for secure) than ones with just http, but they don't mention the little padlock or the shield beside the site name in the box on your browser, which are other ways of labelling a secure site. If you hover your pointer over the padlock or the shield, you see more about what that symbol means.

I haven't read all these, but if I am unsure of a link I don't open it. But I will type it into the search bar.

I confess to being quite confused about what is needed.
I have Avast Mobile Security on my phone, which claims to do lots of things but also offers me more options, at more cost.

I can't repeat often enough that getting a good anti-virus programme and keeping it up-to-date with the latest known viruses and scams is absolutely essential if you use the internet and email. It then searches for and blocks anything from its list. Installing one without setting the updates would mean that it could miss any new threat.

The anti-virus programmes can be set to update regularly. You can choose once a day, once or twice a week, a month, or whatever. You don't have to be techy to do it, you just tick your choice.

pincers

Elegran

I can't find that exchange of posts between StarDreamer and MissAdventure anywhere, Pincer Could you tell me where to look for it, please? Which thread? Approximately when?

Page 5 of the River Po cruise, Elegran.

No anti-virus software is 100% foolproof. My cousin is far more tech-savvy than I am and uses the same anti-virus software as I do but recently his phone was infected with a virus which resulted in all his contacts being sent a link to a pornographic website. I consider links carefully before clicking on them and I never click on them if the source isn't given. I think that's acting prudently and responsibly, not being ridiculously over-cautious.

Missadventure said on here, at 10.18 "That is a problem with my phone, not the links." and then at 10.20 "I'm quite able to manage my own old phone (which isn't the "latest iPhone" - shame on me!) So nobody needs worry."

Yes, I have thought of that.
stardreamer suggested it before, I think.

If I had a decent tablet and felt better, I'm sure I could manage internet banking (famous last words) but my eyes are still playing up.
Least said the better about them.

Galaxy

I dont know about you but the person I am thinking of has to do a journey to the bank that involves driving, there will come a time probably when they are unable to drive, managing their own money independently will be more difficult.

I use telephone banking. It is very effective. Some things are automated and there is also a facility to get through to an advisor, in fact people who know what they are doing, so it works well for me.

I normally use my landline as I have a call plan such that I pay no extra for calls up to an hour and it has never taken anything like that time even for more complicated things.

The reason that I won't have internet banking is that, notwithstanding the secure link from my computer to the bank I cannot absolutely be sure that at any time there is not a virus or a trojan or whatever got into my computer sending a copy of every key I press to someone somewhere. So my concern is not about the bank system's digital security it is the bit between me pressing a keyboard key and the information entering the bank's secure line. I do not know if, in effect, whether a monitoring point, a tee junction, has been introduced.

There is still phone banking , from most providers.

Yes, I did say some links set my phone into overdrive.
As I've said, it's the phone.
Old and clapped out, like me

I can also confirm that not doing things online has caused me no end of trouble; job centre, bank balance, and so on.
It was all fine while I could pop into the bank, and what not, but now...
Well, online banking may have to go on my to-do list.

Elegran

I can't find that exchange of posts between StarDreamer and MissAdventure anywhere, Pincer Could you tell me where to look for it, please? Which thread? Approximately when?

Page 5 of the River Po cruise, Elegran.

No anti-virus software is 100% foolproof. My cousin is far more tech-savvy than I am and uses the same anti-virus software as I do but recently his phone was infected with a virus which resulted in all his contacts being sent a link to a pornographic website. I consider links carefully before clicking on them and I never click on them if the source isn't given. I think that's acting prudently and responsibly, not being ridiculously over-cautious.

And of course the risk of losing the money in transit, etc.

I dont know about you but the person I am thinking of has to do a journey to the bank that involves driving, there will come a time probably when they are unable to drive, managing their own money independently will be more difficult.

Galaxy

Yes I think it's the whole idea that not doing something is somehow less risky than doing something. That's not true it's just different type of risks. I know someone who wont use internet banking because of the 'risk' , this decision has risks of it own.

Ah. Well I won't use internet banking because of the risk.

So what risks of its own does my decision have please?

I'm quite able to manage my own old phone (which isn't the "latest iPhone" - shame on me!) So nobody needs worry.

Incidentally - you bought your virus protection so that you would be protected. Do trust it. Do you have safety belts in your car so that you can keep it in the garage and never go anywhere?

Yes I think it's the whole idea that not doing something is somehow less risky than doing something. That's not true it's just different type of risks. I know someone who wont use internet banking because of the 'risk' , this decision has risks of it own.

pincers

What worries me most about clicking on links is the danger of having your device infected by a virus. I noticed that Stardreamer asked people to click on a particular link and Miss Adventure said doing that had made her phone go crazy, going into her contacts and trying to send messages. I have good anti-virus protection but nevertheless I very rarely open a link.

That is a problem with my phone, not the links.

I can't find that exchange of posts between StarDreamer and MissAdventure anywhere, Pincer Could you tell me where to look for it, please? Which thread? Approximately when?

What worries me most about clicking on links is the danger of having your device infected by a virus. I noticed that Stardreamer asked people to click on a particular link and Miss Adventure said doing that had made her phone go crazy, going into her contacts and trying to send messages. I have good anti-virus protection but nevertheless I very rarely open a link.

Monica I would say that never opening a link in any circumstances shows a mind closed to the infinite amount of information that is available, but open to the fear and distrust spread by sensationalising journalists.

On the other hand, following every single one without using your own common sense would be like reading every single novel listed on Amazon -some brilliant stories, plus a lot of vacuous tripe with a few truly horrible experiences.

If you're right Doodledog and I think you are I have a fairly good idea who.

I have a completely open mind to links. If someone quotes one to support a thesis I will look at it. Sometimes the links people quote are unreliable and dodgy in content and therefore there thesis is unsupported. I will also read a twitter reference because it may be from someone of significance saying something very stupid, and it is worth knowing that they have done so.

I trust other GN members putting a link in a post in an already progressing discussion, where it is clearly connected to what they are saying in their posts. I will also open a link in a new thread started by a regular poster whose name I recognise. malicious or advertising posts are usually fairly obvious and come from unknown posters.

I think it is a bit of a cop out to say never open a link ever, In many cases i have found it has opened up to me new and interesting areas of information.

That was me, and no, of course I wasn't suggesting that Firebird was anything to do with the late poster of that name. Whyever would I do that?

I simply meant that given the nature of Firebird's posts they might be someone who is no longer posting because of previous behaviour and has resurrected themselves. I thought my meaning was obvious, and it never crossed my mind that anyone would interpret it otherwise, much less post about their thoughts to suggest them to others.

No, nobody claiming to be Phoenix, but I wanted to make it clear that there was no connection when I read this :

If you stray away from the topic of this thread, you might find that Firebird is another name for Phoenix

Thanks MawtheMerrier
Perhaps it was a coincidence? I hope so.