How to Recognize a Malicious Link & Avoid Dangerous Clicks
The internet is an amazing place for everyone. There are various ways in which you can shop, learn, work, connect, and entertain yourself on the internet. But it is wisely said that a coin has two faces; similarly, the internet also has some hidden dangers lurking in many of those clicks, the malicious links. These links may appear harmless, but a single wrong click from your side can expose all your personal and financial details, which are meant to be confidential.
Cyber criminals are becoming sharp, and so are their tricks. Thus, it becomes important for everyone, not just IT professionals, to know how to recognize a malicious link.
What is a Malicious Link?
A malicious link is a URL or a hyperlink that is specially designed to lead you to a harmful site or download malware onto your device. These kinds of links often trigger some kind of malicious actions in your device and can potentially steal your personal and financial details.
The attackers use such types of links in phishing emails, text messages, fake websites, and social media posts. They may look normal, but are crafted to trick you into clicking.
If you click on a malicious link, it can:
- Install viruses or some kind of spyware
- Steal your passwords and other kinds of credentials.
- Take you to fake websites.
- Exploit loopholes in your system.
- Trick you into disclosing your confidential information.
How to Recognize a Malicious Link?
- Have a glance at the URL carefully- Before clicking on something, you should check the original URL.
- Watch for spelling mistakes- Cyber criminals have the tendency to use typosquatting, in which they register domain names that closely resemble popular websites but with small spelling errors or typos. These fake and fraudulent domains are designed to exploit the typing mistakes that users make while entering a website address.
- Shortened links- Always be cautious of the shortened links, as some URL shorteners( like Bit.ly, TinyURL) are often used to hide the real destination of a link. They are not always malicious, but still should be approached with caution, especially in messages from unknown sources.
- Check for HTTPS- Always remember that secure websites use HTTPS and not just HTTP. But hackers nowadays also use HTTPS, so don’t rely on it alone.
- Look for the sender or the source- If the link came via emails or messages, always check out the identity of the sender. Hackers or social engineers often spoof their identity to appear trustworthy.
- Avoid any kind of unwanted messages- If you ever receive an email or message claiming you’ve won something or that someone is suspending your account, don’t click on the links. Instead, visit the official website to confirm the claim.
- Use a link scanner- There are various tools available online that can scan the links and tell whether the link is dangerous or not. Just copy and paste the link in the scanner before you click on something.
- Always check the domain extension- It is noticeable that hackers usually use strange domain extensions like .xyz, .info, and .top . Legitimate organizations stick to common domains like .com, .org , or .net .
- Never trust urgent messages- Links that test your urgency and make you more curious are likely to be frauds. Attackers design these kinds of phishing tactics to rush you into clicking the links.
- Train and stay alert- The best defense against all the threats and attacks is awareness. Organize training programmes and educate your employees about the potential risks and threats.
What to Do If You Click on a Malicious Link?
We can make mistakes as human beings. To overcome the mistake, you can follow the steps mentioned below:
- Turn off your internet immediately to stop any ongoing data transfer.
- Run an antivirus scan to check for any problems.
- If you entered your login details, change your passwords with immediate effect.
- Enable a multi-factor authentication(MFA) system on your accounts.
- Report the attack to the IT team or the website/email provider.
- Check your bank and online accounts for any suspicious activity.
Conclusion
Cyber threats and cyber attacks are not just a problem for technical people but also for common people who use the internet for their convenience. Understanding and knowing how to recognize any malicious link is one of the simplest yet most powerful tricks to protect yourself.
You don’t need any kind of advanced tools or any technical knowledge; you just need a little caution and some common sense.