Is this link safe? How to check before you click
A single click on the wrong link can hand over a password or install malware. Here is how to check a link before you trust it.
Why links are the #1 trick
Most online scams come down to one thing: getting you to click a link. The link might lead to a fake login page, a malware download, or a payment form for something that does not exist. Attackers are good at making links look legitimate - so a few seconds of checking pays off.
How to check a link before clicking
- Read the domain carefully. The important part is the domain right before the first single slash. In
https://account.microsoft.com.security-check.ru/login, the real domain issecurity-check.ru, not Microsoft. - Watch for look-alikes. Swapped letters (
paypa1.com), extra words (apple-support.com), or odd endings (.help,.click,.zip) are red flags. - Hover, do not click. On a computer, hover over the link to see the real destination at the bottom of the screen. On mobile, press and hold to preview it.
- Be wary of shortened links.
bit.lyand similar hide the real destination. Expand them before trusting them. - Check for HTTPS - but do not rely on it. A padlock means the connection is encrypted, not that the site is honest. Scammers use HTTPS too.
The fastest way: paste it into a checker
Reading domains takes practice. To get a clear answer fast, paste the link into our Link Checker. It follows redirects, flags look-alike and newly-registered domains, checks the link against threat-intelligence sources, and gives you a plain-language safety score - without you ever visiting the page.
If a link looks suspicious
- Do not enter any information. No passwords, no card numbers, no codes.
- Go direct instead. If the message claims to be from your bank, type the bank's address yourself or use its app.
- Report it. Forward phishing to your email provider or IT team, then delete it.
Already clicked?
If you only opened the page, close it - you are likely fine. If you entered a password, change it right away (and anywhere you reused it), and turn on two-factor authentication. You can check whether that password has appeared in a breach with our Password Checker.
Slowing down for a few seconds before clicking is the simplest, most powerful security habit there is.