Not only did this—let us emphasize, FALSE—news spread like wildfire, but it might have triggered the spread of something more nefarious. Many users reported that after clicking the bogus link, their devices displayed what seemed to be spam at best or malware (and viruses) at worst. Apparently, the only real death here was the virus protection on a large number of smartphones.
Scammers are notorious for using sensational headlines to elicit that “instant-click” reaction. They know that if users take a second to think about what they’re seeing, they’ll navigate away from the shady link and verify the information elsewhere. That moment of thinking twice before clicking is the difference between having your device infected (and possibly your information stolen) and carrying on like it’s just another normal Wednesday.
Quick refresher on protecting yourself from similar schemes:
- Don’t click on suspicious links. No matter how much the headline tugs at your emotions, just don’t do it.
- Verify news through reputable outlets. If you don’t recognize the name of the news source linked to the article, navigate away and do a quick Google search to confirm the story.
- Keep antivirus software up to date. Yes, running system updates can be a pain, but dealing with a virus—or worse, replacing your device—is much worse.
Steve Harvey is a comedian. If he’s going to break the internet, it’ll probably be with another epic Family Feud moment or a perfectly timed joke—not a bogus obituary. Next time news of Harvey’s “death” starts circulating, double-check before you start mourning. History tells us he’s probably still standing, likely rolling his eyes at how gullible we all are.
We’re sure Steve Harvey appreciates the love he was shown this morning when the internet believed he was gone, but let’s let the man live—and learn to verify a story before clicking on a sketchy link.
