By understanding the hacking threats hyperlinks pose and taking proactive steps – such as inspecting URLs, using real-time link scanning tools, and staying vigilant – you can confidently determine whether a link is safe to open.
Steps to Identify & Safely Open Suspicious Links
Before interacting with any link, follow these precautionary steps.
1. Inspect the URL
Examining the URL is one of the most effective ways to spot suspicious links. Cybercriminals often engage in domain spoofing by creating URLs that closely resemble legitimate domains to trick users.
What to look for:
Misspellings: Attackers trying to hack your accounts may replace letters with similar-looking ones (e.g., “paypaI.com” with a capital “I” instead of “paypal.com”).
Additional Characters: Look for extra numbers, hyphens, or subdomains (e.g., “login-paypal-secure.com” instead of “paypal.com”).
Unusual Top-Level Domains (TLDs): Trusted companies typically use well-known TLDs such as “.com” or “.org.” Suspicious URLs may use obscure ones like “.xyz” or “.info.”
For example, you receive an email from “Amazon” asking you to update your billing information. The link reads “www.amaz0n-billing.com.” While it looks legitimate at first glance, a closer inspection reveals a zero (“0”) replacing the “o” in “Amazon” and an unrelated subdomain.
2. Check for HTTPS
The presence of “HTTPS” (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) in a URL and a padlock icon in the browser bar indicates that the website uses encryption to secure data transmission. While not a guarantee of safety, it’s an important first check.
HTTPS encrypts data exchanged between your browser and the website, protecting sensitive information like passwords and credit card details. Most legitimate websites, especially those handling sensitive information, will use HTTPS.
Cautions:
HTTPS is not foolproof: Scammers can still create phishing sites with HTTPS certificates (e.g., a fake banking site might display HTTPS but still be malicious).
Expired Certificates: Be wary of warning messages about expired or invalid certificates. This often indicates a poorly maintained or suspicious website.
For example, you’re about to log into your bank’s website, but the address bar shows “http://bank-securelogin.com” instead of “https://yourbank.com.” The lack of HTTPS is a red flag, suggesting the site is not secure.
3. Hover Before Clicking
Before clicking a link, hover your mouse over it (on desktops) to preview the destination URL. This technique allows you to verify if the link leads to a legitimate site or a suspicious one.
Steps to Follow:
Hover over the link and check the URL preview, typically displayed in the bottom-left corner of your browser. Compare the URL to the expected domain. If it doesn’t match, avoid clicking. Pay attention to shortened URLs (e.g., bit.ly links). You can use URL expansion tools to see the full destination.
Request a Demo: See how Bolster stops scams in real-time. Schedule a demo with our team.
Cautions for Mobile Users:
On mobile devices, previewing links can be trickier. Long-press the link (without releasing) to see the URL. Again, the long-click is key—be cautious not to click accidentally.
For example, you receive an email saying, “Claim your $500 gift card now!” The link reads “www.rewards-bigprize.net.” Hovering reveals the destination as “http://malicious-site.info/giftcard.” This inconsistency exposes the scam (in addition to the “too good to be true” nature of the message itself).
4. Beware of Urgency
Phishing scams often rely on creating a sense of urgency to pressure victims into taking immediate action without careful consideration. These tactics exploit emotions like fear and excitement.
Common Examples of Urgency:
Threats of Account Suspension: “Your account will be locked in 24 hours unless you verify your details.”
Too-Good-To-Be-True Offers: “Congratulations! You’ve won a free iPhone! Claim it now!”
Fake Security Alerts: “Unusual login detected on your account. Secure it immediately by clicking here.”
How to Handle It:
Pause and evaluate the situation. Legitimate organizations rarely demand immediate action through email or text. Contact the organization directly using verified contact information, such as their official website or phone number. Avoid clicking links or downloading attachments until you’ve confirmed the legitimacy of the message.
For example, a text message claims, “Your bank account was accessed from an unknown device. Click here to secure your account.” Instead of clicking, you contact your bank through its official app or phone number and discover there’s no security issue.
5. Use a Sandbox or Dedicated Scanner
If you absolutely must open a suspicious link, do so in a dedicated sandbox environment that isolates the activity from your main system. This prevents potential harm if the link turns out to be malicious. You can also run the link through a real-time scanner like CheckPhish or VirusTotal to test it safely before opening.
Advanced Tools for Scanning Links
Even with vigilance, some phishing attempts are sophisticated enough to bypass manual detection. Tools like CheckPhish provide an additional layer of security, offering real-time analysis of suspicious links.
How CheckPhish Works
URL Submission: Enter the link into the CheckPhish scanner.
Real-Time Analysis: The tool inspects the URL’s domain, HTML content, screenshots, and certificates.
Threat Detection: Proprietary machine learning models identify signs of phishing, such as fake login forms or brand impersonations.
Instant Feedback: The scanner provides immediate results, indicating whether the link is safe.
Why Choose CheckPhish?
CheckPhish excels at:
- Minimizing false positives and negatives, providing reliable results.
- Protecting sensitive information during analysis, ensuring attackers don’t exploit scanner data.
- Using advanced technology, CheckPhish captures live screenshots, analyzes page elements like logos and forms, and leverages proprietary threat intelligence to identify scams effectively.
The Dangers of Hyperlinks
Understanding the risks hyperlinks pose is crucial for protecting your systems and data. It’s not “just a click.”
Here are the most common threats to consider:
1. Phishing Attacks
Cybercriminals use deceptive messages containing malicious links to direct users to fake websites. These sites are designed to steal sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial details. Clicking on such links can expose you to identity theft or scams.
Similar trust issues exist in the software supply chain. See our guide on securing Python projects from PyPI supply chain attacks
2. Malware Infections
Links can hide malicious code that downloads malware onto your device when clicked. This malware can disrupt systems, steal data, or grant unauthorized access to attackers.
3. Drive-By Downloads
Visiting compromised websites may result in hidden downloads initiated without user interaction. This silent threat makes it challenging to detect or prevent malware infections.
4. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Attackers exploit vulnerabilities in websites to inject malicious scripts. For instance, a malicious comment on a trusted website can execute harmful code, stealing cookies or session data without requiring you to click anything.
Final Tips for Safe Link Management
To wrap, avoid clicking on links from unknown or untrusted sources, and instead, consider using a dedicated sandbox environment to open suspicious links (which provides an isolated space to analyze their safety without risking your system).
