Have you ever seen this in an email or a text message? How about, “You Have Got to Check this Out!” Does your friend have something juicy on you? Did a family member find something amazing?

Chances are…NO! The new way to victimize users is pretending that they are someone you trust with a “have to see” image or video. These are files that hide their true nature…viruses, malware or worse. You can have your information stolen or your computer or data held for ransom. Most of these cases are extremely hard to get rid of and can cost you lost time, money and information.

Take these steps when you see or receive this type of message.

First, DO NOT OPEN! This is the most critical point of this exercise. Do not open, do not open, do not open. If you did and it is a virus, it is too late. Pay close attention to who it came from, what does it say in the subject line and what is the body of text. Is this typically the type of conversation you have with the sender? If not, it is probably a trap.

Second, if you are unsure if the message was sent from someone you trust, then just ask them. Send them an email or text back asking if they meant to send you that message. Most often than not, they didn’t and it would be a courtesy to them so they know messages are being filtered though them or they may have been hacked. That will give them a chance to investigate and take necessary steps to fix the problem and maybe give a shot out to warning others of the issue.

Lastly, if you are still unsure if the message is legitimate or not, just delete it. Don’t take the chance. Get rid of it and if it was really from some you know, they can always resend. It is better to be safe than sorry.