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.

Take a look at the examples below and hover over the elements to learn more about separating deceptive from secure URLs.

3. Hover Before Clicking

Before clicking a link, 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.

Mobile-Specific Link Safety

This is a good spot to pause and mention that on mobile devices, previewing links can be trickier.

Mobile devices present unique challenges for link inspection thanks to the fact that:

• Smaller screens make full URLs hard to read
• No traditional “hover” functionality
• Auto-preview features can be misleading
• One accidental tap can trigger downloads
• Limited sandbox/scanning tool options

Here is how identifying suspicious links differs between desktop and mobile devices:

How to Inspect Links on Mobile

Step 1: Long-Press (Don’t Tap!) the Link

• Press and hold your finger on the link for 1-2 seconds
• Don’t release or tap—just hold steady
• A menu will appear

What to look for:

• The URL that appears in the menu
• Compare it to what you expected
• If it doesn’t match → Release your finger and don’t tap anything

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).

Step 2: Copy and Inspect the Full URL

When to use this method:

• The long-press preview from step 1 is truncated or unclear
• You want to see the complete URL
• You’re suspicious and want to double-check

How to do it on an iPhone:

• Long-press the link
• Tap “Copy Link”
• Open Notes app (or any text app)
• Paste the URL
• Read the complete URL carefully
• Look for misspellings, extra characters, unusual domains

How to do it on an Android:

• Long-press the link
• Tap “Copy link address”
• Open Notes app (or Google Keep, Messages, etc.)
• Paste the URL
• Read the complete URL carefully

Step 3: Check the Sender’s Contact Information

On Mobile, you can’t easily verify links, so verify the sender instead:

If it’s an email:

• Look at the sender’s email address (not just the display name)
• Does it match the company’s official domain?

If it’s a text message:

• Does the number match the company’s official number?
• Call the company’s official number to verify

Legitimate companies rarely text urgent requests

If it’s a social media message:

• Check if the account is verified (blue checkmark)
• Go to the company’s official profile directly (don’t click the link)
• Message them through official channels if needed

Here are red flags to watch for with suspicious links on mobile:

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 include:

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 Urgent Messages

Pause: Don’t click immediately. Take a breath and step back.
Evaluate: Ask yourself: “Does this match the organization’s typical communication style?”
Verify: Contact the organization directly using verified contact info (official website or phone number).
Confirm: Check if there’s actually a security issue before taking action.
Avoid: Don’t click links or download attachments until confirmed legitimate.

For example, a text message claims:

“Your bank account was accessed from an unknown device. Click here to secure your account.”

Instead of clicking, 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:

🎣 Phishing Attacks

What happens: Deceptive links direct you to fake websites
What they steal: Login credentials, financial details, personal information
Risk level: High — Can lead to identity theft or account takeovers

🦠 Malware Infections

What happens: Malicious code downloads when you click
What it does: Disrupts systems, steals data, grants unauthorized access
Risk level: Critical — Can compromise your entire device

📥 Drive-By Downloads

What happens: Hidden downloads occur without your interaction
What it does: Silently installs malware in the background
Risk level: High — Difficult to detect until damage is done

💉 Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

What happens: Malicious scripts injected into trusted websites
What it does: Steals cookies, session data, or personal information
Risk level: High — Can happen without clicking 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).

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