Close to holidays, we all send and receive messages with all kinds of wishes-- so you are not surprised when, one day, you receive an electronic card in your e-mail or your Facebook/ Twitter/ LinkedIn inboxes.

You get the notification and are invited to open the card by clicking on a link. The name of the e-card company that scammers use to get your attention could be a famous one (eg. Hallmark) but the link that you have to click contains a virus or key logger – software that records what keys you press and then access your personal files.

How to avoid: any reputable e-card company will tell you in the notification message who is the person who sent you the e-card. If the message you get is just: “You’ve received a card”, delete it right away.