Gift Card Scams: How to Spot and Avoid Them
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What's better than receiving a gift card with money or a new phone for you? Nothing, right? But what's worse than being a victim of gift card scams? Again, nothing.
It is all fun and games until you get scammed and lose your device for a virus or a malware.
What Are Gift Card Scams?
Gift card scams are a social engineering technique designed to trick people into clicking on certain links with malware or to provide sensitive info.
One example of these gift card scams is the Amazon gift card scam. It is a pop-up that will promise you a non-existent prize if you press on the link.
When you press on the link, your device will be infected with malware. And, instead of receiving a prize, you will receive viruses and financial and material losses.
Some people will be deceived by the tempting offer and will go ahead and fill in some sensitive information, like credit card info and address info. Scammers will use this information to rob their victims, virtually and physically.
So, what if you accidentally press on it? Or, what if your younger sibling or your child does so? You will have so much trouble undoing the damage. So, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
The way to protect yourself is to install an Antivirus that will detect any potential danger and intercept it to keep your device safe. It will also prevent such pop-ups from reaching you in the first place.
Recommended Antiviruses
Don't fret; we've got your back. We have tried some antivirus services for ourselves and came up with a list of our top picks.
1. Intego
If you don't use a Macbook, you can scroll down to the next recommendation.
Many people consider the Mac operating system better than Windows, claiming it has better security protocols. However, it is not bulletproof, or to be more accurate, virus-proof. Intego provides Mac users with reliable and proficient real-time protection against malware, viruses, and other cybersecurity threats.
While the macOS already has a somewhat strong firewall, Intego's firewall NetBarrier proved to be much stronger. NetBarrier is optimized to protect your Mac on private and public networks. In addition, this firewall gives you control over the websites and apps that want to send you ads and pop-ups, which, as we've already established, contain malware.
VirusBarrier is Intego's antivirus scanner. It has many features, including but not limited to; antivirus scans, malware detection and removal, real-time protection, and scheduled scans. In addition, VirusBarrier’s “Safe Browsing” feature protects you from malicious websites and emails.
Intego also has a Washing Machine” feature that combines a range of cleaning and performance optimization tools.
Mac Premium Bundle X9 Includes all features and has three plans:
- One device - $84.99 per year.
- Three devices - $115.99 per year.
- Five devices - $146.99 per year.
It is worth mentioning that Intego has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Bitdefender
Bitdefender's invincible intrusion detection system efficiently detects both common and newly-merged sophisticated malware. In addition, its firewall makes sure to detect and intercept any virus or malware that tries to get to your system.
In case your device gets infected with a virus, Bitdefender has two solutions:
- Use the rescue tool from inside the antivirus report page.
- If your device isn't starting at all, you can use the USB rescue tool.
Bitdefender has three plans:
- Antivirus: $19.99/ year (1 device), $29.99/ year (3 devices), $69.99/ year (5 devices), $79.99/ year (10 devices).
- Total security: $39.98/ year (5 devices), $44.99/ year (10 devices).
- Internet security: $24.99/ year (1 device), $34.99/ year (3 devices), $84.99/ year (5 devices), $89.99/ year (10 devices)
All plans have alternative periods of commitments: 2 or 3 years. In addition, all plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. Norton
Norton's advanced firewall will protect your device from any malware or viruses. In addition, not only does Norton have an intrusion detection system, but also an intrusion protection system. It is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
Norton has a downloadable rescue tool. If any virus or malware bypasses the first line of defense, you can turn to this tool.
Norton has a VPN with all plans. A VPN will encrypt your data and mask your actual IP address, giving you a private and safe internet connection.
Norton has three plans:
- Norton 360 Standard: $39.99 per year - one device.
- Norton 360 Standard: $54.99 per year - five devices.
- Norton 360 Premium: $69.99 per year - ten devices.
All plans have a 60-day money-back guarantee.
4. McAfee
McAfee has a strong firewall to detect and intercept any attack. It also has an intrusion detection system to stop any possible intruder from getting to your device. McAfee is compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices.
You can download the McAfee CleanBoot disk on a USB. This tool acts as a rescue mechanism if your device gets infected with a virus and cannot start.
McAfee has four plans:
- Single device: $24.99 per year.
- Individual/Couples: $29.99 per year - 5 devices.
- Family: $34.99 per year - 10 devices.
- Ultimate: $69.99 per year - unlimited devices.
All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read more about the best Antiviruses on the market, rated and ranked, and fully analyzed.
Virus Scanners & Removers: Best Four in 2021.
Virus Scanners & Removers: Best Four in 2021.
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Phishing Emails Example Guide: Online Safety 101.