THE UPCOMING solar eclipse promises a mesmerizing spectacle, but with excitement comes a surge in scams.
Fraudsters are planning to exploit this astronomical event to target unsuspecting consumers.
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As such, witnessing the eclipse safely requires awareness of these tactics to protect your eyes and your wallet.
WHAT KIND OF SCAMS?
A major concern, as identified by cybersecurity experts from McAfee, is the abundance of counterfeit eclipse glasses.
“It doesn’t take much to spin up e-commerce sites and pump out ads nowadays,” the cybersecurity firm writes in a blog post.
“Thanks to a host of low-cost and easy-to-use tools for publishing and advertising online, scammers of all sizes can create bogus shopping experiences much more quickly than ever. “
The most concerning part of these imitation glasses is that they lack proper filters, posing a significant risk to your eyesight.
Gazing directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, can cause permanent vision loss, Nasa warns.
To help prevent viewers from such scams, McAfee has shared some steps they can take.
HOW TO STAY SAFE
Prioritize Reputable Sources
Purchase eclipse glasses exclusively from established, well-known retailers with a history of quality products.
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Avoid unfamiliar websites or online marketplaces offering suspiciously low prices.
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Seek Certification
Legitimate eclipse glasses adhere to international safety standards.
Look for ISO certification (International Organization for Standardization) specifically mentioning compliance with the ISO 12312-2 standard for safe solar filter glasses.
Verify Website Security
When shopping online, ensure the website is legitimate.
Look for the lock icon within your browser’s address bar, indicating a secure connection.
The Sun – all the facts you need to know
What is it, why does it exist, and why is it so ruddy hot all the time?
- The Sun is a huge star that lives at the centre of our solar system
- It’s a nearly perfect sphere of hot plasma, and provides most of the energy for life on Earth
- It measures a staggering 865,000 miles across – making it 109 times bigger than Earth
- But its weight is 330,000 times that of Earth, and accounts for almost all of the mass in the Solar System
- The Sun is mostly made up of hydrogen (73%), helium (25%) and then a number of other elements like oyxgen, carbon and iron
- Its surface temperature is around 5,505C
- Scientists describe the Sun as being “middle-aged”
- The Sun formed 4.6billion years ago, and tt’s been in its current state for around four billion years
- It’s expected that it will remain stable for another five billion years
- It doesn’t have enough mass to explode as a supernova
- Instead, we expect it to turn a hulking red giant
- During this phase, it will be so big that it will engulf Mercury, Venus and Earth
- Eventually it will turn into an incredibly hot white dwarf, and will stay that way for trillions of years
Websites with typos or grammatical errors are often red flags and should be avoided entirely.
Invest in Quality
Don’t compromise on quality for price when it comes to your solar eclipse glasses.
Genuine eclipse glasses might cost slightly more, but they are an essential investment to safeguard your vision.
Experts also advise caution regarding unsolicited emails or social media posts promoting eclipse glasses.
Remember, a little precaution goes a long way in safeguarding both your finances and your vision during this celestial event.
WHAT IS A SOLAR ECLIPSE?
A solar eclipse is a natural phenomenon when the sun, blocked by the moon, casts a shadow on the Earth.
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This partial or total blockage can only happen when the sun, moon, and Earth line up.
As the Sun’s rays are blocked, it gives people a chance to witness its fiery corona.
