In today’s digital world, worrying about being “scammed” and “hacked” can make people feel overwhelmed by technology, but how would you tell the difference between being scammed and hacked? Words like “cyber” and “URL” might sound complex, especially if you’re not used to hearing them in everyday conversation. This article will dive into common digital and cybersecurity terms in simple, clear language. Whether you’re browsing the web, checking emails or using social media, knowing what these words mean can help you recognize potential threats and protect yourself online.
Cyber: Refers to anything related to computers, the internet and digital technology. When you hear “cyber”, think of things that happen online or involve technology, like emails, websites or even online security. So, terms like “cybersafety” and “cybersecurity” are all about staying safe when using the internet and protecting your information from online threats.
Browser: A program that lets you explore the internet. It’s what you open to visit websites, read the news, check your email or watch videos online. Popular browsers include Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge. Think of it like a window to the internet: you open it, type in a website address or search for something, and the browser takes you there.
Search engine: A search engine is a website, like Google or Bing, that helps you find information on the internet. You type in words or questions, and the search engine looks through millions of websites to give you a list of pages that might have the information you’re looking for. It’s like a digital library where you can search for almost anything you want to know!
URL: A URL (which stands for “Uniform Resource Locator”) is the address you type in to go to a specific website. It’s like the street address for a website on the internet. For example, if you want to visit a website like the Gardaí, you might type “www.garda.ie” into the browser. Each website has its unique URL, which helps you find it quickly and easily.
Copy and Paste: A quick way to move text or images from one place to another on your computer. When you copy something, you’re making a duplicate of it that gets temporarily saved. When you paste, you place that copy somewhere else – like a document, email or message. It’s like picking a piece of paper and placing it where you want it, without changing the original! The copy and paste will come in handy when checking suspicious URLs on our site safety checker.
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Online shopping: Online shopping means buying things over the internet. Instead of going to a store, you can use your computer, tablet or smartphone to look at items, choose what you want and pay for it online. Online shopping also includes paying bills, buying transport tickets and ordering items for delivery right to your home.
Scammed: Being scammed is a broad term that includes any situation when someone tricks you into giving away money or personal information, like passwords or bank details. This usually happens through fake emails, SMS or websites that look real but aren’t. For example, you might get an email that looks like it’s from your bank, asking you to click on a link and enter your account details. Scams are designed to steal your information, so it’s always best to be cautious with unexpected messages and check if they’re really from who they say they are.
Hacked: Unlike being scammed, the term hacked means that someone breaks into your device or account without your permission. Hackers use technology to sneak into your information by taking advantage of weak security (e.g., weak passwords and lack of two-factor authentication). Unlike scams, you don’t give anything away on purpose – they just take it.
Password Manager: An online tool that safely stores all your passwords in one place. Instead of trying to remember many different passwords, you only need to remember one main password to access the manager. The password manager keeps track of your login details for each website and can even help you create strong passwords to keep your accounts safer.
App-Based Password Managers
These are apps you can download to your computer, phone or tablet. They store your passwords on your device, making them easy to access, even offline. Examples include LastPass and NordPass.
Browser-Based Password Managers
These are built into web browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari. They remember and fill in passwords as you browse the internet, which can be convenient if you mainly use one browser.
Cookies: Cookies are small pieces of information that websites save on your computer or device. They help the website remember things about you, like your login information or what you looked at. This way, the next time you visit, the site can load faster and remember your preferences. You’ll often see “cookie banners” on websites, which ask for your permission to store these cookies. While cookies can make browsing easier, they also track some of your activities, so it’s good to know how they work and manage them if needed.