The term “clickbait” is all too common online, and it’s often the reason for so many hacking crimes out there. The scary part about this phenomenon is that it’s easy to fall for it. To help you ensure that you don’t fall victim to dangerous clickbait, use the anti-hacking feature to warn you whenever links are unsafe as you browse the web. Click here to use anti-hacking to protect yourself from dangerous clickbait:
Read More: Why Clickbait Works and How You Can Avoid It
What Is Clickbait?
Think of a piece of cheese or a dollop of peanut butter on a mouse trap. The food is the “bait” that lures the rodent into the trap. This concept can be applied to clickbait. Clickbait refers to a hyperlink or web page that somehow entices a visitor to click on the article, even though it could ultimately be harmful to them. These links usually have catchy or provocative headlines that use exaggeration or hyperbole to make someone interested enough to click on the link.
For instance, they’ll use celebrity names, phrases like “the ultimate” or “you’ll never believe this,” the promise of something like “guaranteed ways to save money,” or something along those lines. As you can see, they make the headlines as tempting as possible.
Why Clickbait Can Be Dangerous
There are many dangers and risks associated with clickbait, which is why it’s important to stay informed and protected against it. Typically, dangerous clickbait sites will ask viewers (who fall into the trap) to register for the site, entering personal information. This could include anything from one’s name, address, and date of birth to even riskier information like a social security number or credit card number. This often leads to stolen funds or serious identity theft. These sites oftentimes look legitimate, which is why it’s more important than ever to have the right protection.
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