Attn., small-business owners: Watch out for an email that claims you’ve violated someone’s copyright. The “legal notice” document attached is malware. A real legal letter will be in the body of the email itself, saved as a PDF, and also delivered via USPS or another service. If you see a RAR or EXE file, that’s a scam — delete it.
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.
Google Drive could start blocking files it says are against its terms of service
Google Drive is a cloud-based storage system that lets you store files, which you can access by logging into your account from any phone, tablet or computer. It’s useful for keeping files organized and sharing them with others.
How to watch ‘Die Hard’ and all your other favorite Christmas movies this season
It’s time to revive an important annual debate: Is “Die Hard” a Christmas movie? We could argue about this all day — but if you go to Netflix, you’ll discover a shocking lack of “Die Hard” to use as evidence. ‘Tis the season to be thankful, though: If you use ExpressVPN, you can access a Netflix library where “Die Hard” is actually available.