Today, almost every print source has a digital edition (e.g., ebooks, online newspapers), and some academic journals only publish digitally. However, despite the many credible digital sources available today, there are still many unreliable sources available on the Internet. Below are some suggestions for evaluating digital texts and a breakdown of the different types of sources available online.
If you receive a link from someone you don’t know or a site you regularly visit is functioning differently than normal, check the URL to ensure you’re on the right site. If you’ve stumbled onto one of these false domains, close the window and clear your history and browsing data to keep you from ending up there again. Hackers have several ways to try to steal your information using fake websites. Spoofing is when a scammer builds a site that looks almost identical to a real site in order to capture your logins and passwords. When trying to sort out truth from ‘alternative truths’ it is always a good idea to use two or more sources.
You’ve probably seen a trust seal or trust badge before without realizing what exactly it was. Trust seals are symbols or badges that usually show up on purchase pages to verify a page is https://cayaski.com working to keep your information safe. Common badges include those from Paypal, Better Business Bureau and Verisign.
Using platforms like Trustpilot or Feefo to check customer reviews can help you assess a website or company’s trustworthiness. Be cautious if the website lacks reviews or if the reviews seem overly generic as these may be suspicious. If you’re not sure if a website or company is legit or fake, find their official contact details and call them.
Certification seals on websites can be clicked to reveal records on the certifier’s official database, which prevents fraudulent display of fake logos. Keep an eye out for pixelated images or graphics, and out-of-date logos or branding. These could indicate that scammers are attempting to imitate a legitimate brand or don't have the resources to create a professional website. It is usually possible to tell if the source is credible by relying on common sense.