How to Check If a Link Is Safe – Quick and Easy Ways
It’s almost impossible to be connected to the Internet and not stumble across a link or webpage that you’re unsure about. Whether it be an e-mail, video, or website – there will always be some sort of code or link that you question its safety.
It’s in these moments when you need to know straight away if something is safe to click on or not; especially if you’re connected to the Internet through a home network, work WIFI, school network, etc.
If your connection is from home then you should be safe going with your intuition and common sense; however, if your connection is from somewhere else (i.e. school, work) then it’s best to err on the side of caution when coming across suspicious links like these.
How to Check If a Link Is Safe: Basic Checks
A) Check the URL
B) Check the link’s host and IP address
C) Look for misspellings and extra formatting
D) Check the date and time the link was published
E) Double check the link’s URL
F) What does the link lead to?
G) Check the link on multiple browsers If the URL of the link looks fishy, is misspelled, or has an additional “.com/” at the end, then it’s best that you don’t click on it. Also, if the link was published hours ago, but you just saw it a couple minutes ago, then it’s best that you don’t click on it. If the link is legit, then the link will lead to a legit website. However, if the link leads to a webpage that is either blank or filled with gibberish, or if the link redirects you to a different webpage, it’s best that you don’t click on it.
Google’s Safety Check
First up, and probably the most used tool to check if a link is safe or not, is Google’s “Safety Check.” Google’s Safety Check is a simple and easy to use tool that allows you to scan a URL or a link and instantly know if it’s safe or malicious.
Most people use this tool when they’re not connected to the Internet through a home network. You can use Google’s Safety Check either by visiting the tool directly via Google.com or by highlighting the suspicious link, then clicking on the “Going to Copy” option to the right of the link.
Microsoft’s Smart Screen
Next up, and also a very common tool used to check if a link is safe or malicious, is Microsoft’s “Smart Screen.” Microsoft’s Smart Screen is a built-in tool that ensures that no malicious code is running on your machine.
If you’re connected to the Internet through a school or work WIFI, then it’s best that you use Microsoft’s Smart Screen to check if the suspicious link is clean. While Microsoft’s Smart Screen is a great tool, it’s important to remember that it’s not perfect. It might flag a link as malicious when it’s actually safe; but it’s best to err on the side of caution when clicking on links.
Firefox’s Safe Browsing Tool
Next up, in the list of tools to check if a link is safe or malicious, is Mozilla’s “Safe Browsing Tool.” Like Google’s Safety Check and Microsoft’s Smart Screen, Mozilla’s Safe Browsing Tool is a tool that helps you scan links and URLs to see if they are safe or malicious.
There are two ways to use Mozilla’s Safe Browsing Tool – directly via the browser (i.e. Firefox) or via a website. To use the toolbar, you need to first install it on your computer. Once installed, you can use the toolbar to scan any link on any webpage, whether it be on your computer or on the Internet.
To use the browser add-on, you need to first open Firefox and click on the “Add-ons” option on the top-right of the browser. From here, select “Extensions” and look for the “Safe Browsing” option. Once installed, you can use it to scan links on any website.
Install and run an ad blocker
Next up, in the list of tools to check if a link is safe or malicious, is installing and running an ad blocker. Ad blockers are a great tool that you can use when checking if a link is safe or not. If the suspicious link gets blocked by the ad blocker, then it’s safe to go ahead and click on it. However, if the link goes through the ad blocker, then it’s best to not click on it.
Run a quick virus scan
Next up, in the list of tools to check if a link is safe or malicious, is running a quick virus scan. If the suspicious link contains a file extension that the computer recognizes as malicious, then it’s safe to go ahead and click on it. However, if the computer doesn’t recognize the file extension, then it’s best to not click on it.
Summing up
The Internet is a vast and exciting place to be. However, as a user, it’s important to stay safe online and take all the necessary precautions to avoid getting hacked or scammed. When it comes to checking if a link is safe, there are several tools and methods you can use to make sure you stay as safe as possible.
