Accidentally Clicked Link To Hookup Site

A click is just a click, usually. Most of the time, clicking a link just brings up a webpage. In the case of attempted phishing, the webpage may look like some other site you might recognize, but it won’t be that site at all. Nine times out of ten, it’ll be a sign-in page, and you’ll be asked to sign in to the account the page is trying. “Warn on Close” feature prevents the web browser from accidentally closing multiple running tabs. Sometimes a user is working on multiple tabs and he might accidentally click on the close (x) button of the window or might press hotkeys such as Alt+F4, Ctrl+Shift+Q (has been disabled in Chrome 70 and later), etc which are used to close. Hello, I accidentally opened the link in a scam text message the other day. I closed the site that opened. I did not have time to read the text on the webpage. This was in private browsing it opened. And then restarted my iPhone. Is there a way to check if malware has been installed on my iPhone? Question: Q: Clicked on scam text. Hello, I accidentally opened the link in a scam text message the other day. I closed the site that opened. I did not have time to read the text on the webpage. This was in private browsing it opened. And then restarted my iPhone. Is there a way to check if malware has been installed on my iPhone?

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Caroline EberhardtOriginal Poster
How to restore an accidentally deleted chrome profile
Hi all, I was quickly maneuvering through my browser trying to do some work and I somehow accidentally created a second chrome profile - not knowing about what chrome profiles were, I deleted BOTH the one I had just created, and the original chrome profile which had my bookmarks / passwords saved. (Deleted on 7/1/2021, around 11:30a EST - it wasn't until after lunch ~1p that I realized what I did). I've tried to look at the user data for the original profiles, but I can't find the folder (Except now I've created and deleted so many profiles that now I only have it for 'user 6'). When I right click chrome on the desktop, then click on 'restore previous versions' there are no versions listed or available. I would really love to be able to restore it back, but I can't find the files anywhere. Anyone else experience this? I suppose I can recreate the bookmarks and reset my passwords - but I wish I could just undo!!!!! Thanks in advance
Other Chrome Questions and Issues, Windows, Stable (Default)
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To all the users in this thread, you could try this set of steps as a last resort. Just make sure to show hidden files and folders from the 'Folder Options' area in Windows Explorer:
HOW TO RESTORE DELETED DEFAULT USER PROFILE IN GOOGLE CHROME
1. Go to C:Users<name>AppDataLocalGoogleChromeUser Data
2. Copy the folder named <Default> on your Desktop
3. Uninstall Google Chrome and then delete folder <Google> from C:Users<name>AppDataLocal
5. Now go to C:Users<name>AppDataLocalGoogleChromeUser Data and replace the new <Default> folder there with the one from your Desktop
6. Load Google Chrome and everything -should- be restored
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There's no way to undo that I'm afraid. Deleted profiles are permanently deleted.
Edit: In other words, there is no supported setting or feature to undo. Your mileage may vary with the solutions being suggested here.
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Nooooooo. I am having the same issue. Chrome must have done an automatic update recently on my computer, and all of a sudden, it was 10x harder to switch between my multiple Gmail accounts. I had multiple user profiles, and so I deleted them all without any idea of the consequences. Is there a way I can restore them from Gmail?? The Chrome profiles seem to be attached to my email accounts somehow. Please help!! Years of really important bookmarks that I need ASAP!
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David, I did the same thing on Sunday July 11, but ti restored the 'default' file in google chrome that got deleted. got it from carbonite. but now I don't know how to reconnect it up again. Is there a way to do tat. I just paid someone to figure it all out and he didn't know how to do it. so i'm left with nothing. How can I hook up my old version back to a profile?
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Same. At first, I just want to make profile pic on my chrome on the taskbar disappeared so I watched youtube and try to search it in google chrome help. Some of them said delete the account so I know that it's not gonna only delete the profile pic on the chrome but DELETE it. After many time I search and still couldn't find it so I just try to delete it. So after the first acc's profile pic 'disappeared', Then my second acc profile pic appeared. Then I delete it too. And now I just made my problems WORSE. The chrome got reset, when I touch the chrome button on taskbar, It open a new chrome and ALL my works, bookmarks and more are GONE. I am crying right now. Ofc I can just sign in to my acc on reseted chrome and just add back my bookmarks and wallpaper BUT the bookmarks are the problem. They are so hard to find. Almost all of them can only find ONCE. Pleaseeeeee. I am crying so much right now T⁔T
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I have the same problem! You'd think that with such a impounding feature Google would at least send some sort of notice, or info card to let us know! Now we're all just suffering the consequences! It's very disheartening.
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I could actually cry. I've deleted masses of bookmarks/passwords/logins/resources that I use ALL THE TIME and have amassed over the past 18 months of having to adapt between working between home and the office.
This ridiculous new thing with making you make every email address a 'profile' now. I ended up somehow using a secondary email address on my 'original profile' and have now deleted what I thought was a duplicate. Like another poster says - no confirmation or warning box and no way to retrieve? Poor show Google.
18 months of gathered resources, gone.
So angry.
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Another unhappy customer. Same thing - I have deleted my Person 1 totally unavare that it holds all my passwords to the sites I frequently use and bookmarks collected during the last 4 years . I had no idea and there was no worning no nothing. Very disappointing to say the least.
@david.king is there any way for you to raise it with google chrome?
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This is a mostly a user to user community, therefore if this is important to you, I’d encourage you to also send this feedback directly to Google. You will not receive a response, unless Google need more details from you, however the team are still reading the feedback.
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I have to say I am really pissed off at Google Chrome now.
First, Chrome created multiple new Chrome profiles for the same ID for reasons I don't understand. Then I carefully selected first one and then the other new Chrome profiles and deleted them... but there was a lag in Chrome, so when I selected the second new Chrome profile to delete, it registered the position and deletion command, but then after wards it shift the icon positions around and then followed through with deleting my original Chrome profile which I have been using for years and has all my saved information in it.
And now everything appears to indicate this cannot be reversed.
I am not even sure I can find and restore all the information that was deleted, so this has likely done permanent harm to me.
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@Gonzalo 3301 how did you manage to get any of it back? I'm currently running into the same issue unfortunately
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Although it is tempting to answer the title question with, “run, run for the hills!” Instead, I will try to give you some sound advice on what to do if you find yourself having clicked a phishing link.

Wait, But What is Phishing?

Before starting, and just to add some context, I’ll go over what phishing is all about. Phishing is still the proverbial pain in the butt for the cybersecurity industry, business folks, and for the general public in equal measure.

How does phishing work?

It is THE most used tool by the cybercriminal community to:

  • Steal personal data
  • Steal financial card details
  • Steal login credentials
  • Install malware onto your computer
  • Install malware onto your mobile phone/device

One of the techniques used by cybercriminals to facilitate all of the above is to include a malicious link in a phishing email. This link, if clicked, begins the process to steal data or infect your device with malware.

In a 2018 survey of over 700,000 phishing emails, nearly half of recipients opened the email and about one-third clicked the phishing link in the email. Once that link is clicked, just what can go wrong and what can you do to reduce the damage?

You Clicked the Phishing Link, So What Now?

Phishing links are used to do the bidding of a cybercriminal; clicking a phishing link usually results in some action, such as being taken to a website, to do something like entering personal information. Below, are typical phishing processes and how to manage the fall-out from clicking a link.

As you’ll find out below, the actions you’ll need to take depend a little on the type of phishing attack you’ve been hit by. Generally, if you’re not sure and you’ve clicked on a phishing link:

  1. Do not enter any data
  2. Disconnect from the internet
  3. Scan your machine using an antivirus/anti malware software – do a full scan
  4. Change your passwords
  5. Make sure you’ve backed up files somewhere safe

Phishing for Data

Type of email phishing link: Phishing emails often have enticing offers or vouchers associated with them. They may also ask you to give your details to apply for a voucher or offer or similar.

Clicking the malicious link in this type of phishing email takes you to a web page with a form to complete:

      1. You’ll be directed to a spoof webpage. If it was a branded email, for example, the email looked like it was from Tesco, the page will look just like a Tesco webpage.
      2. This webpage will ask you to input some data. These data could include any or all of the following:
        1. Personal details such as name, address, or similar
        2. Financial data, such as credit card details
Accidentally clicked link to hookup site movie

What to do:

      1. DO NOT enter any of the data requested
      2. Disconnect your computer from the Internet as quickly as possible
      3. You may have an urge to ‘play’ with the cybercriminals and enter your own spoof data; don’t engage with them it is pointless and may give them information such as your IP address which they can use to carry out further attacks.

Phishing for Login Details

Type of email phishing link:Emails that are branded to present a well-known company and an online account. They may say that your account has been hacked, or you need to update the account after suspicious activity – anything to get you to click the link.

The phishing link takes you to a login page:

      1. You will be directed to a login page that looks exactly like the well-known brand from the email, for example, Apple.
      2. You will be requested to enter your login credentials, e.g., a username and password
Clicked

What to do:

      1. DO NOT enter any login credentials. They will be immediately sent to the cybercriminals behind the scam who will use them to log in to the real brand account.

Phishing Infections

Type of email phishing link: Malware infected websites can be at the end of a link you click.

The phishing link takes you to a spoof site:

      1. By the time you get to the site, the damage may already be done. A ransomware known as CryptoLocker or Cryptowall, as well as other malware types, used this method to infect users’ devices.
      2. The URL the link connects to carries the infected code
      3. If your device is vulnerable (i.e. there is a security vulnerability in the browser or other software on your machine) the malware can take advantage of this and install.

What to do:

      1. Disconnect your device from the internet immediately. Either by switching off the network connection on your device or unplugging the network cable. This will help to contain any malware infection.
      2. Scan your machine using anti-virus/anti-malware software. Use the full-scan mode. Remain disconnected from the internet during the scan.

An important note:

Phishing email links may be multi-tasking. That is, they may take you to a website to trick you into revealing personal data, collect a login credential AND infect your device.

To be extra careful, you should:

      1. NEVER enter any personal data or login details to a website unless you are ABSOLUTELY sure it is legitimate
      2. Run an anti-malware scan regularly and immediately after clicking a suspicious link
      3. Keep secure backups of your files in a safe place

Important Ways to Protect Yourself from the Impact of Clicking a Phishing Link

As well as the immediate responses suggested above, you should also do the following:

      1. Make sure your software on your computer is up to date and security patches installed
      2. Use hard to guess passwords
      3. Change your password to any accounts you think are involved
      4. Do not use the same password for multiple accounts
      5. Use two-factor authentication wherever it is supported
      6. Back-up your files regularly to a secure backup device (ideally one which is not continuously connected to your network)

Also, remember that:

Phishing links don’t just come in emails. Malicious links that lead to stolen data and infected devices also can be found in:

      • SMS text messages
      • Mobile app messages
      • Social media posts
      • Even Google calendar invites can contain phishing links

Phishing campaigns are forever being updated to try and get around the measures we use to protect ourselves. However, if you keep cybersecurity aware you stand a better chance of staying cyber-safe.