Website/URL/Link Scanner Safety Check
Unsafe links are everywhere, and the headaches they can put you through are unimaginable. These links appear as shortcuts to shocking news, interesting deals, or funny videos. However, once you click on the links, your computer may be hijacked, and you may lose your personal information. Unsafe links can also be encountered in search results and websites. To protect yourself from malicious attacks, below are ways to scan URL link without clicking it.
These link-scanning solutions are free and reliable, and you do not need to download any tool.
1. Hovering over a link
Links may sometimes mask their destinations, and you cannot know where it takes you until you click on it. If the link looks suspicious, you should not click on it without knowing the website it links. If you hover over the link, you can see the full URL of the link's destination at the corner of your browser. Once you know the destination, you can decide whether it is safe to click on it or not.
2. Scan URL with link scanner
Link scanners can help you check whether a particular link is safe before you click it. These scanners are plugins or websites where you can enter the URL link and scan it for safety. Several free link scanners are available and can help you determine how safe a link is. A good example is the URLVoid that scans links using several services, including Google, Norton SafeWeb, and MyWOT. This link scanner is a fast and reliable way to scan a link.
3. Use URL Decoding Tools
Some Malware veterans may conceal the link’s destination using a URL encoding tool. This masks the link, so you cannot know where it will take you. Malware distributors can also hide commands and other filthy information within the link. You can encode the link using a URL decoder and know exactly where it takes you.
4. Inspect Shortened Links
If you notice that a link is too short, it may be potentially dangerous. There are many link shortening services such as Bitty and TinyURL, and OW.ly that malware distributors use to shorten their links. Hackers and phishers compress links to conceal their actual destination.
It is not possible to tell whether a link is unsafe just by looking at it. You can scan the URL links you find on social platforms using SUCURI. SUCURI will automatically expand the shortened link and reveal whether it is safe or not.
Another link expansion tool you can use to reveal the true destination of a link is CheckShortURL. Other link expansion sites may even tell you if the link is in the list of ‘bad sites.’
5. Scan unsolicited emails
Another common way malware distributors use to hack websites or steal personal information is by sending unsolicited emails. The emails seem to be coming from your bank and usually ask you to verify your information. If you click on the link, the hackers may steal your bank information.
Any unsolicited email that asks you to verify your banking information is a potential phishing attack. Even if the link seems real, avoid clicking on it but rather visit your bank's website through your web browser.
6. Copy the URL link safely
If you want to scan a URL link using Malware scanning services such as SUCURI and URLVoid, you may be required to paste or type it in the tool. You can safely copy the link by right-clicking on it and pasting it into the link scanner.
Link safety tips you should use
Below are general URL link safety tips that will keep you safe from future attacks by hackers.
- Use link scanners to scan suspicious links. Link scanners reveal the link’s remote destination and give you a report on what they find.
- Enable active or real-time scanning in anti-malware software. This will help you to catch the malicious software before it infects your computer or website.
- Update your anti-malware or anti-virus software to make sure it catches the latest malware definitions.
- You can also add a second opinion malware or anti-virus scanner to provide more protection if your primary malware scanner fails to catch or detect threats.
These steps will protect you and your visitors from malicious attacks and prevent malware distributors from stealing sensitive information.
There are many ways hackers can infiltrate your website or computer using URL links. Your friends and family may pass on unsafe links unknowingly in instant messages, emails, or social media posts. If you suspect the link is connected to phishing activities, ensure you scan it first before clicking on it.
