You might be breaking the law online and not even know it
If you’ve ever uploaded a video to YouTube, you know how fast it will be flagged if there’s even a hint of a copyrighted song playing in the background.
If you’re shaking your head, you’re not alone. There are many things you shouldn’t do online. Some are just plain dangerous. Tap or click for five silly mistakes putting your online privacy and security at risk.
Benign actions can put your info in the hands of clever criminals. Take your phone number. Tap or click to see why you must stop sharing your real phone number with anyone who asks.
Before diving into my list of illegal online activities, I must remind you: I’m not a lawyer. Use your best judgment.
Getting movies for free
This illegal activity shouldn’t be a surprise. Downloading a movie — or album, eBook, audiobook, or another piece of media — from a torrenting site is a no-go. Given how easy it is to stream about anything, you hear less about torrenting than in years past.
Still, people flock to download copies of newly released movies. Go to a torrenting site, hit download, and you’ll likely get a shaky, dubbed version of what you want to watch.
It could get worse. Watch the mail for a warning notice when your ISP detects you have downloaded copyright-protected content. They could cancel your service and alert the authorities if you don’t knock it off.
Here’s something else to consider. Torrents are a common vector for spreading malware. Stay safe and only use reputable apps and services that have the right to show you what you want to watch.
Tap or click for 13 tried and true ways to watch movies for free.
Using images on your site or videos
Unless you have express permission or know a photo is in the public domain, it’s not yours to use or share online. It’s unlikely you’ll get nailed for copyright infringement by posting a meme on Facebook. However, be especially careful when posting images to your website or using images in your videos.
This face search engine anyone can use is amazingly accurate
Facial recognition software, previously only used in science fiction, is now an everyday part of our lives. We use it to unlock our phones, verify our identities online and even get through the airport faster.
Though useful, this tech can be utilized without your permission, as seen in a recent $650 million class-action lawsuit against Facebook. The social network used facial recognition to suggest photo tags, which broke a privacy law. Tap or click here to see if you can expect a settlement check in the mail.
Love posting funny photos and memes online? New rules may change what you can share
Facebook has been getting its fair share of criticism over the last couple of years. The social media platform has become known for its issues with scammers, data tracking, stolen content and fake news posts.
Add that to privacy issues Facebook has had over the years and it’s easy to justify breaking up with the social media platform. But many of us use the site to post content or to keep in touch with old friends or family members — which can make breaking up hard to do.