Stay Safe from Sneaky Scammers: A Kid’s Guide to Beating Phishing!

Stay Safe from Sneaky Scammers: A Kid's Guide to Beating Phishing!
Stay Safe from Sneaky Scammers: A Kid's Guide to Beating Phishing!

Hey there, Pixelateddad is here to talk to you about something important: phishing. No, not the kind of fishing where you catch fish, but the kind where bad guys try to trick you into giving them your information.

Phishing is when someone sends you a message or an email pretending to be someone else, like a friend or a company you trust. They might ask you to click on a link or give them your password or personal information. But here’s the thing: these bad guys are trying to steal from you or do bad things with your information.

So how can you protect yourself from phishing? Here are some tips:

  1. Be suspicious of messages from people or companies you don’t know. If you get a message from someone you’ve never met or a company you don’t recognize, don’t click on any links or give them any information.
  2. Check the sender’s email address. Sometimes the bad guys will make the email address look like it’s from a company you trust, but if you look closely, you’ll see that it’s not quite right. For example, it might be missing a letter or have an extra letter.
  3. Don’t click on links unless you’re sure they’re safe. If unsure, you can hover your mouse over the link to see where it goes. If it looks fishy, don’t click on it!
  4. Don’t give out your personal information. Your personal information is valuable, and you should only share it with people or companies you trust. If someone is asking for your password, your address, or your phone number, be careful!
  5. Talk to a grown-up you trust if you’re not sure. Talk to a grown-up you trust if you get a message that seems suspicious or are unsure of what to do. They can help you figure out if it’s safe or not.

Remember, kiddos: it’s important to stay safe online, just like it’s important to stay safe in the real world. Be smart, be careful, and don’t fall for any tricks from the bad guys. Stay safe out there!

PixelatedDad

Dr. Chris Spencer, better known as PixelatedDad, is a retro gaming enthusiast and self-proclaimed geek who’s a few pixels short of a full sprite. Despite his age, he’s young at heart, often immersed in games older than his kids, with the reflexes of a sloth and the aim of a blindfolded monkey—but still determined to save the pixelated princess, one clumsy jump at a time. Beyond gaming, Chris is a distinguished computer scientist with a doctorate, a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (FRAS), and a member of the Sherwood Observatory and the Planetary Society. As a Dark Sky Ambassador, he’s passionate about preserving the natural night sky and reducing light pollution. Chris is also a husband, proud dad of two sets of twins (#TwinsTwice), and a multitasker extraordinaire who balances coding, stargazing, 3D printing, and snuggling his loyal sidekick, Doggo McStuffin. Whether he’s gaming, championing dark skies, or exploring the cosmos, life for Chris is a journey worth every pixel.

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