Have you ever done an online quiz, clicking on a question asking what your dream job is, or what your favorite color is? Seems innocent enough. You get to find out your future, your aesthetic, what your personality is. But what if it isn’t as innocent as the software is placed to be? Turns out that a lot of these online quizzes are a cover up for hackers, or scammers to take personal information. cbsnews.com warns online users that “These quizzes are one of the many tools hackers use to steal your personal information without you even realizing it. One of the most significant risks associated with participating in quizzes on social media is the potential loss of privacy.” and “In 2021, more than 95,000 people reported roughly $770 million in losses to fraud taking place on social media platforms in 2021, according to the FTC.” (Cerullo 2)
Scammers are defined by the term “Phishing” which is “the fraudulent practice of sending emails or other messages purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.” (oxford dictionary) Therefore, with pesky scammers and their sneaky tactics, staying safe online and being more aware of the information you give out is crucial. Ways you can do that is looking out for simple things such as typos, suspicious quiz questions, if they ask for a phone number, email, or ask you to sign into an account before starting the quiz.
It is important to note that in some cases figuring out if a online quiz is a scam can be difficult, so when a hacker or scammer does get a hold of your information, they, according to tcdrs.org, “can use these quizzes to install malware onto users’ devices and access account information. Once they have your data, they can use it to hack your profile, steal your identity and impersonate you to friends and family.” Malware, which is commonly used among said hackers is “any intrusive software developed by cybercriminals (often called hackers) to steal data and damage or destroy computers and computer systems. Examples of common malware include viruses, worms, Trojan viruses, spyware, adware, and ransomware.” (cisco.com)
In conclusion, next time before tapping on a side ad about what type of person you are, take a closer look at the details of the website and if it is truly reliable and worth your time or safety.
