Is nothing safe anymore?

I get bored like anybody else when I'm surfing the web, and yes, sometimes I'll indulge in the occasional quiz on Facebook. But what I didn't realize is that these could be ways for hackers to get at my information too.

Hackers can use quizzes to disguise malicious links. Some hackers will connect to Facebook accounts in order to extract data; they can even trick people into downloading malware:

So what can you do before you click on that next quiz? Check out these seven tips:

• Only take quizzes from reputable sources that protect your data.

• Hover over hyperlinks before you click on them to see if the URL appears suspicious.

• Open any web links from your browser independently of the social media website or use a link scanner.

• Treat your email address and login credentials just like you would cash; it’s that valuable.

• Report scams through the applicable social media sites.

• Be wary of links posted by friends that seem unusually sensational. Instead of clicking on the link, go to a trusted new source and search for the story there.

• Be wary of Internet quizzes or polls that require you to sign in or pull personal information. Why? You don’t know who they are sharing this information with. For example: What street did you grow up on is a common bank security questions. To be super safe, stick to traditional quizzes in printed magazines.

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