To check if a link is safe, there are several effective methods:
- Use online link checker tools such as URLVoid, EasyDMARC Phishing Link Checker, F-Secure Link Checker, or Bitdefender Link Checker. These tools analyze the URL against databases of known malicious sites and scan for threats, giving you a safety report indicating whether the link is safe, suspicious, or unsafe.
- Check if the website URL starts with HTTPS rather than HTTP. HTTPS indicates that the site uses encryption (SSL/TLS) to protect data transmission, which is a sign of a safer site.
- Examine the website for legitimate contact information like an email, phone number, and address. Fraudulent sites often lack verifiable contact details.
- Look up reviews and reputation of the website on platforms like Google Reviews or Trustpilot to gauge user experience and trustworthiness.
- Check the domain age and ownership using WHOIS lookup. New or anonymously registered domains may be less trustworthy.
- Analyze the website's backlinks via tools like Ahrefs. A site with many reputable backlinks is generally more credible.
In addition, hover over the link to see the actual URL without clicking, watch for suspicious URL patterns, spelling errors, or strange characters, and avoid clicking on links from unknown or untrusted sources. Using antivirus software and browsing in incognito mode can further protect against threats from malicious links.
