What series of events or what actually happens when you click on those scammy or dangerous links? How do they actually do you harm?
In: Technology
It depends on the purpose behind the link. For instance, clicking on a link can simply register to the spammer that your email address is valid, their message got through your spam filter, and you’re gullible enough to click on a link. They can now move you to a list of people they can target.
Other links simply try to download a virus right away and hope that you’ll install the virus and go from there.
Other links go to fake websites that look like it’s PayPal or your bank account or anything else. They’re hoping you’ll give them more data such as:
* your password to that site, or
* failing the login, you try to go to their fake password reset where they can ask frequently asked questions like mothers maiden name, dob, etc
The purpose is to get more data they can use on either the website they’re trying to fake and/or try to login to other websites you use – including email accounts.
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