Whenever you have an immediate, nagging doubt, Google is an excellent way to get some answers. However, there are some terms that you should avoid searching. Some of these terms make your computer and personal information vulnerable, while others end up showing images that can gross you out and give you nightmares.
Avoid using Google to search certain websites
1. Banking websites
Never search for your bank’s website on Google. You might end up clicking on a result that will take you to a webpage that looks authentic, but it is actually a clone created by hackers. If you enter your username and password in the fields, the info will go straight to the hackers and they can empty your bank account in a jiffy. Always type in the correct URL of the banking website in the address bar and you will be safe from bank fraud.
Searching for your bank’s website on Google can lead you to fake websites set up by hackers aiming to steal your account information. (Image: Screenshot via YouTube)
2. Medical solutions
When you are sick, it can be tempting to look for solutions online. This is a dangerous habit. You must understand that medical solutions are not simple. And you have not been trained to make a judgment on the medical condition that afflicts you. There is a strong possibility you will get influenced by some of the fake solutions online and will end up worsening your health. Plus, you will be exposed to tempting ads. There are so many fraudulent medicines and treatments that can suck up your money and cause even more harm. Searching for drug information online also comes with great privacy risks.
3. Personal insecurities
Be careful when searching about your insecurities. Advertisers make use of Google Ads to psychologically exploit your fears to siphon off your money. For instance, people who are concerned that they are too ugly can get conned by ads that promise to make them beautiful for a few hundred dollars. The more you search about insecurities, the more Google will throw up results and ads that deepen your insecurity.
4. Apps
You might see an ad for a smartphone app that triggers your interest. When looking to install that app, go to the official Google or Apple stores and download them. Avoid searching for apps on Google since the fake results can fool you into installing harmful apps that may steal personal information, including pictures.
5. Suspicious terms
Avoid searching suspicious terms like “how to make a bomb” and so on. Such terms usually get flagged by intelligence agencies and you might see the police or the FBI on your doorstep. Back in 2013, a family in New York that searched for terms like “pressure cookers,” “bombings,” and “backpacks” received a quick visit from local authorities.
One family’s combined Internet searches included things like ‘pressure cookers,’ ‘bombings,’ and ‘backpacks’ and led to a visit by local authorities. (Image: Screenshot via YouTube)
6. Rat King
This term might sound like some cute cartoon character. But in reality, searching for it will return disturbing images of several rats tied together by the end of their tails. The sight can be stomach-churning for some people.
7. Calculus bridge
If you are interested in math, “Calculus Bridge” may seem like something exciting. However, the term has no relation to mathematics. It refers to a dental disease in which plaque gets so hardened that a person’s mouth looks weird and scary.
8. ‘Eel Girl’
Eel Girl sounds like a superhero name. You will be shocked to find out that it is actually a cult horror movie from 2008. Some of the images show a man being swallowed whole by a woman. So if you are not into horror, better stay away from searching the term.
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