You're probably familiar with the term 'phishing' by now, but just in case you aren't, it's what we call it when people try to steal your private information through emails, websites, etc. One method commonly used is to provide you with a fraudulent link. Check out Wikipedia for a full description at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing.

There is a new type of phishing attack that you need to be aware of if you use LinkedIn, because it looks a lot like an invitation from someone on LinkedIn for you to join their network. Or, worse, it may look like a message from LinkedIn telling you to go check your messages... and providing a handy dandy link (which, of course takes you somewhere else and presumably, tries to get you log in, thereby stealing your linked in username and password.)

This one is a bit scary to me because I use LinkedIn a lot and might have fallen for it, had it crossed my inbox. But thanks to a timely warning and explanation from Dave Hatter, I (and you, gentle reader) will now be on guard against such an attack.

The full story on this new phishing attack can be read on Dave Hatter's blog (here ) And, a big thanks to Dave for the warning.

As I have said before, NEVER NEVER NEVER click on a link if you don't see where it's taking you. And I don't mean the link text, friends and neighbors, I mean the actual destination link. The above link to Dave's blog is a good example. It says it's taking you 'here', but that's not the URL. I could have just as easily typed in "free DisneyWorld Vacation"  or even "Message from LinkedIn" but where will the link actually take you when you click it?

For those of you who've heard this before, my apologies. Better safe than sorry. And for anyone who anyone who is still wondering what the heck I'm talking about, I have a blog entry about phishing in general and some ways you can tell they are not legitimate links. You can read more about it (here... if you trust my link, that is Bwaa! ha! ha! ha!!! [cue evil music...]

Be safe!