How To Avoid Malicious Fake Websites

Most people do not know how to tell a fake website from a real website.

How To Avoid Malicious Fake Websites That Might Scam You

There are a few simple rules that you can follow to keep you out of danger.

The domain name system was created in 1985. At that time, there were only seven domain name options and they were called “top level domains.” These include:

.com – short for “commerce” this domain name is the most popular
.edu – this domain name is restricted for use by educational institutions and universities.
.gov – Only government agencies, agents, and offices can use this domain name. F
.int – This domain name stands for “international”
.net – This domain name was created for network providers but it’s now open for broader use.
.org – This domain name was created for any organization.
.mil – United States Military

Since then hundreds of more were created.
See:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Internet_top-level_domains

The only thing you need to pay attention to is the top level domain and the domain name directly to the left of it.

LOOK FOR THE FURTHEST DOT TO THE RIGHT!

The Domain Name is owned by people or companies. It can be any name you want. You own it for as long as you pay a yearly fee. Once you buy the name you can sell it if you want for any price.

Example: wikipedia.org is owned by Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. and will never be sold unless the company goes out of business. If they do go out of business the domain name “wikipedia.org” would probably sell for over one million dollars.

If you want to find out who owns a domain you can go here: https://lookup.icann.org/en/lookup

Domain names like Google.com or BankofAmerica.com will never be sold unless they go out of business and again will sell for millions of dollars.
If you see Google.Com in the link you know you are safe.

If you want you can register: GooGooPooPooDooDoo.com for only $20/year because I just checked. It is available. Now if you see: https://Google/GooGooPooPooDooDoo.com/BankofAmerica/

Is this link safe?

LOOK FOR THE FURTHEST DOT TO THE RIGHT!

The answer is: Most Likely not because it is name that anyone can buy for $20.00. You can double check at https://lookup.icann.org/en/lookup
The owner of the domain  can add whatever they want before and after the domain name and who knows what they will do to you once you click on the link.

Is this link safe?
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ol#inbox/WhctKKZW

LOOK FOR THE FURTHEST DOT TO THE RIGHT!

The answer is yes. It is owned and controlled by Google and very unlikely  they would do nasty things to you or it would be a top news item if Google started wiping out peoples hard drive or steal all your money.

Is this link safe?
https://www.getsafeonline.org/

I don’t know.
The longer the name the less it will sell for and could possibly be owned by a scammer.
I would recommend checking who owns it at: https://lookup.icann.org/en/lookup

Contact Information
Registrant:
Status: removed

Seems very fishy. They are hiding the name of the owner and don’t even tell you what country they are in.

The only thing you need to pay attention to is the top level domain and the domain name directly to the left of it. Nothing else matters.

TEST
Is this email real or fake?
Take a look at the email address @iedjgc.edu.co

LOOK FOR THE FURTHEST DOT TO THE RIGHT!

You see the .edu means it is a school but look to the right.
You see .co This is the country code. What country is .co ?
Type this in google country code .co Response : Colombia
This email came from a school in Colombia.
I don’t think Norton has a branch in Colombia.

If you call that number they will probably ask for your Username and Password.
Now they can open your Norton Password Vault and empty all your bank accounts and max out all your credit cards.

If you do not see a country code that does not mean the Web Site is in the USA or Safe.
There are tricks scammers can do to make the site seem like they are in the USA when they are really in Russia.