It's Easy As Common Sense, Just What Is Common Sense?

I think all aspiring and professional writers will agree when I say that ‘We are never fully satisfied with our work. We always feel that we can do so much better and that our best piece is yet to be written’. I also believe that there is at least one other person in the universe that relates to your style of writing and feels how you feel at varying moments in your life. 

Well, whether, it’s the effect of the coronavirus or having recently been wrongfully accused of perpetrating such despicable deeds, by writers here on Virily or just a sign of the times, but the general sense of lethargy, or perhaps, a foreboding, call it what you will, has of late made me considerably more aware of the vile, intrusive aspect of scamming, hacking, phishing and to determine just how vulnerable we, legit, writers are to their ilk. 

So, having had my curiosity piqued, I did my due diligence to appease my curiosity, as seen in the two previous posts dealing with this topic. Regarding internet security, one of the oft-cited pieces of advice computer pro’s hand out is this: ‘Use your common sense”. Among the common responses is this: “So, Just what, precisely, is that?” When it comes to technology and security, “common sense” is exceedingly important, and yet poorly defined. I will attempt to define it. I think many of the “rules” may sound familiar to you, i.e. “If it sounds too good to be true…”  we often see that most malicious incursions mask themselves as promises of objects that appear irresistible. 

Practical examples of such offers that are really too good to be true may include: “Free download” advertisements. Software ads that promise to “boost your computer speed”. Ads that include the phrase “one stupid trick to…” or versions thereof. “Click-bait” headlines that include the phrase “you won’t believe” or “This, will blow your mind”, or something like that. 

One key to most of these bogus headlines, beyond the fact that the promises they make seem way over the top, is that you weren’t looking for them when you came across them. (They obviously also naturally appear when you are looking for a related product or service.) We find Advertisements on practically every website. Most are legitimate and well-positioned, but others are over-the-top attempts to get you to click or download whatever it is they are offering. Particularly when you’re not specifically looking for something, don’t fall for outlandish or extreme claims.

 They are:

 • All too common.

 • Often false