Generally, surfing the Internet is relatively safe, but there are instances where your alert level should be high, especially if you’re browsing unfamiliar Websites or those with tons of pop-up adverts & banner ads. There’s a high chance some of them could be malicious links.
Most of us have clicked a link, even on a trusted Site & faced a banner advert announcing that we had won a staggeringly large prize just because we’re the “supposed” 10,000th visitor. On such a page, you may have noticed it difficult to exit the Site, or escape the banner. Just in case you follow the link, you’re faced with a set of forms aimed at information harvesting & obviously, there is no prize.
So, how do you keep yourself safe from the malicious hacking exploits of nefarious cybercriminals, & how do you best inspect links for safety before clicking through?
Malicious Links: What To Watch Out For
When faced with a link you’d like to follow, but are suspicious of, there are several options available to test the security of the Site before clicking through:-
- If you’re using a PC hover over the link to view its full name, while on a mobile device press & hold the link to reveal a pop-up which will include the name.
- If the site’s URL does not have an HTTPS prefix, it is not safe to browse.
- If the link is a shortened BITLY version of the full name, use a tool such as CheckShortURL to reveal its full name.
- Be instantly suspicious of Sites that have very similar, but slightly misconfigured URLs, to well-known Websites, such as, forbs.com or amazen.com
- If you do click on the link, use your browser’s built in tools to view the “trust” ratio of the Website’s SSL certificate.
- Check that the Website’s URL in the browser bar is, in fact, the Site you were sent to via the link & that you haven’t been re-directed to another website altogether.
- Only use secure Sites. Your browser should show a “padlock” icon, & should not display the “Not Secure” notification.
What Could Happen With A Malicious Link
There are several ways your device or you could be compromised if you visit insecure or malicious Sites. The Website could add an unsolicited cookie to your browser & track your actions in sly & compromising ways. You could be encouraged to download malware, spyware or hi-jacking agents, which could then steal your personal data or lock your files unless you pay a “ransom”. And, of course, your money could be stolen if you enter your banking credentials on dubious Sites.
What You Should Never Do
Basically, you have to “do” something to severely compromise yourself Online, so if you take heed you should be safe
- Malicious links don’t only appear Online, they can be on an app or in an email where they’re harder to inspect. Never click on links that are in unsolicited emails & if you see a link on an app only click if you downloaded the app from a trusted source such as the Apple App Store or Google Play.
- Do not complete forms that require your banking details, unless the Website uses a trusted well-known payment gateway like PayPal or Stripe or the website is a trusted site like Amazon or Etsy.
- If you receive emails from financial organizations such as your bank, double check that the email is in fact sent from your bank’s domain, &, if there’s a link, that your browser bar shows the correct URL. Your bank, normally, will not ask you for your username or password. All banking activities are to be done only on the bank’s official Site or app.
What To Do If You Have Clicked On A Malicious Link
Clear your browser cookies (you should make this a habit). If you think your device has been hacked, back up your data to your PC & reset your device to factory settings. If you think you visited a dubious Site, check the link for “trust” ratio using an app or Online resource. Change your sensitive passwords such as banking or e-commerce Website’s passwords (consider using a password safety (vault) app by default).
Image by 200 Degrees from Pixabay
