Do not click on the phish

I logged into Facebook from my work computer. Well, almost. A pop-up window popped up.

“Someone has tried logging into your computer from an unrecognized location. Your account has been temporarily blocked until you confirm this was you.” Oh bother, I thought, clicked “Yes, it was me,” and moved on – wait, did it ask for my password again? I don’t remember.

I do remember that a short time later the window popped up again, and I just clicked on my Facebook home bookmark and it went straight to Facebook home. I figured, of course, I’d already signed in again and confirmed it was me, silly pop-up.

This morning I awoke to Red calling from the living room, “You just sent me a friend request.” Eeeek! Hacked!

I spent the next few minutes doing all the things you’re supposed to do, like changing passwords and alerting friends that yes, we’re already friends, and it wasn’t me who asked to befriend me again.

I share this just to let you know that apparently some sophisticated hackers can tell when you’re signing in from a different location than usual, and the message “Your account has been temporarily blocked” is bogus. If it pops up, before you respond to such a window, just click on your Facebook bookmark or otherwise go to Facebook.com — you probably will discover you had already signed in the first time and everything is operating normally.

There’s a special place in hell reserved for people who phish around looking for people’s personal private information. Just sayin’

Published by WarrenBluhm

Wordsmith and podcaster, Warren is a reporter, editor and storyteller who lives near the shores of Green Bay with his wife, two golden retrievers, Dejah and Summer, and Blackberry, an insistent cat. Author of It's Going to Be All Right, Echoes of Freedom Past, Full, Refuse to be Afraid, Gladness is Infectious, 24 flashes, How to Play a Blue Guitar, Myke Phoenix: The Complete Novelettes, A Bridge at Crossroads, The Imaginary Bomb, A Scream of Consciousness, and The Imaginary Revolution.

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