Gmail seems to have some fans but I'm not sure I'm comfortable giving Google my phone # , knowing they scan content, partner with the nsa and build user profiles that they sell. Still I know many people use it and other Google services
Also, thanks to others for suggestions but what can I do to ensure that I am not clicking on a site that will result in my pc being infected with malware?
#1 use noscript for firefox or aquivalent for your browser. Chrome has some good build in mechanisms that work similar.
#2 dont click random links, if you think that the link refers to this forum copy the part besides the main url and type the url by hand. e.g. instead of clicking on
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=366340.0, copy "index.php?topic=366340.0" type bitcointalk.org and paste behind it. That way you are allways 100% sure go to the site that you think you do.
If you dont know the site you want to go to put it in your favorite search engine (might want to use ixquick or duckduckgo [both are german, but im sure you can find an englisch google proxy] if you want to keep a low profile on google)
#2.b this means never ever click a shortened link, you have no way of knowing what is behind it unless you click it. If someone gives you shortened link ask nicely for the full link, if you dont get one, well try to find the page with the given context.
#3 keep a good antivirus software up to date or use an OS that is not a common target (basicly linux or openBSD)
#4 keep your OS and software up to date, some updates work automatically, some dont, make it a weekly happid to check for new versions of the software you use, this limits the risk of old and well known vulnerabilities.
#5 you can never be 100% safe, thus make a paper-/ coldwallet and use strong passwords
oh and
#6 use different passwords for every login, yes this gets annoying, but if your super duper safe password gets stolen on badsecpage.com it can not be used on everything else.
