The Internet is a real wonder. I say this because I’m not hiding my affection for this tool. It gives us the ability to contact people from all over the world, makes it easier to organise our lives, gives us a chance to earn money and many, many other things. And all this without having to leave the comfort of your own home. Unfortunately, the Internet also brings with it many dangers. Pornography, hacking, theft and many other virtual crimes. So, if you are planning to start multiplying money online, it’s worth knowing how to make money online safely.
Opportunities and risks
The Internet has revolutionised the labour market by creating new jobs and professions. Many of them are related to e-marketing, which is a form of marketing activities undertaken online. Social media, content marketing, SEO, graphic advertising, AdWords campaigns, mailings, and remarketing are just a few examples. This is not all.
The virtual network has also facilitated access to places that were previously only reserved to the chosen few. One of them is the investment exchange. At the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, this place was exclusively reserved for brokers and brokerage houses. The publicly accessible Internet has made it possible to create virtual platforms offering online trading.
Unfortunately, the Internet is also a place full of anonymous threats. This is because the virtual world allows you to create fictional accounts, emails and profiles. It also allows the publication of unverified and false information. Account hacking, theft of data, or the illegal use of photos and documents are a common occurrence. In the wrong hands, the Internet can become dangerous. This is illustrated by the development of the hacker community, which has become a cybernetic weapon.
What to watch out for on the Internet?
It would seem that the virtual world is significantly different from the real world. It turns out, however, that they have a lot in common. One of these elements are:
- Viruses – just like a human, our computer can get infected with a virus that will cause its failure. To avoid this, antivirus programs are required which operate on the principle of a vaccine against the disease,
- Password in the browser – more and more people are logging into their accounts from someone else’s computer, saving their logins and passwords on it. Leaving such data behind may result in our profile or account getting hacked. It’s like leaving your house keys in the street.
- Privacy breach – “privacy on the Internet” does not exist because everything we share can end up in the wrong hands. We are constantly being watched online, and it depends on us how much we say about ourselves,
- Spam are virtual leaflets. Whether we want it or not, a lot of useless messages and adverts are sent to our mailbox. The more often we share our data, the more information of this type we will receive,
- Threat of data loss – it concerns people using the so-called cloud, i.e. a virtual storage area for information. If it is poorly secured, then someone can break in and download our data,
OK, but how do you make money online safely?
The above examples are typical threats for network users. There are also a number of other risks related to the ways of making money on the Internet. Subtle, intriguing and equally dangerous.
- Phishing of personal data – this problem especially affects those people who have poor knowledge of the Internet. When publishing information concerning, for example, job offers, the swindlers request us to send them personal data. Those interested in the job offer send their CVs with a phone number and an email, hoping to be contacted by a potential employer. Unfortunately, instead, victims receive calls from various agencies and banks,
- Fake stories – the Internet is full of stories about how Mr X made a fortune. All he had to do was “something” and then he just multiplied his profit. This “something” is usually transferring money and investing in something that is supposed to prove a real success. Unfortunately, this is not what happens.
- Support of fake foundations – the Internet also contains numerous websites belonging to false foundations and help centres that ask for financial support. A touching story and moving photos persuade people to transfer money to a seemingly worthy cause. Unfortunately, this money is not used for charitable causes; instead, it ends up in a private account,
- Pyramid schemes – once popular in the real world, nowadays frequent on the Internet. The rule is the same – you pay money to make money. Find more people and you’ll multiply your profit. As a result, our money disappears along with the creator of the idea,
- Pretend sales – something which is usually advertised with slogans such as: 500,000 a month or 50,000 a week, everything depends on you! These are usually sales offers with very low commissions.
The Internet is a world full of possibilities, and it has revolutionised the modern world. However, it is not devoid of defects and dangers. The Internet is full of threats lurking in wait for all inattentive and carefree users. We should all keep this in mind.
