How To Check Website Safety Before You Click

A Guide to Safer Browsing

Nearly everyone surfs the web on an everyday basis. People search for information related to their jobs, enjoy shopping online, look for sites related to hobbies, and more. The web is so ingrained in our lives that we often take for granted that the things we do and the sites we visit are safe. Unfortunately, this is not the case. There are various threats to web safety, and people need to take precautions to protect themselves.

Why Checking Website Safety is Essential

It’s important to check website safety for many reasons. Fraudulent sites can mimic popular shopping sites by stealing photos and pretending to be online shops with lower prices. They scam customers by taking orders they won’t fulfill and stealing credit card information.

Phishing is more common than people realize, and many have fallen for the ruse. How phishing works is simple. An email is sent from a seemingly legitimate source and has a file attached. The email claims it’s an invoice, an important internal company memo, or other sort of attachment to lure the user into clicking on it. Since the email address often resembles a valid one at a glance, people click on the file, trusting it’s safe. Instead, it downloads malware (malicious software).

Malware disrupts computers or computer systems and can devastate a personal computer or entire business network. It can inject viruses into the system, which spread quickly and corrupt data. Trojans can also be unleashed, allowing hackers to steal data, access computers, and systems remotely, and cause widespread damage.

Concerns about web safety are global and some governments are taking steps to make online activities safer. Some people already try to protect themselves by using private browsing, but this isn’t sufficient.

So what is the solution?

Simple Ways to Check Website Safety

There are several simple ways to check for website safety.

One is to ensure that the URL you’re interested in visiting starts with https://. This means the website uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) to encrypt secure communication over a network. If a website address does not start with https://, you may not want to trust it, as it could infect your computer with malware.

Some fake (phishing) websites use misspellings that closely resemble legitimate websites. If you click on the link, it will likely be designed to imitate the original website. Ensure that the link you’re interested in clicking on isn’t misspelled and is the site you want to visit.

Tools to Help Check Website Safety

An effective way to check a website is to use URL-checking tools.  An add-on browser extensions are available to evaluate each website or app during a browsing session. They use machine learning algorithms, which help to calculate a safety score for websites and apps. The combination of user feedback and threat detection algorithms provides scores that help users avoid dangerous sites.

URL-checking tools can alert users to threats, including drive-by downloads and exploit kits. A drive-by download is when a website downloads malicious software without the user’s knowledge. Exploit kits target user browser vulnerabilities or add-ons to infect computers with malware.

Another way URL-checking tools are helpful is by warning users if a site is known for hosting malware.

Red Flags That Indicate a Website May Be Unsafe

There are other ways to check if a website is safe. Look for a Contact Us or About Us tab and make sure there is contact information. If there is not, this is a warning sign. Also, a lack of a privacy policy is a red flag that the website should be avoided.

If the website bombards the user with pop-ups urging them to download software or to click to another site, be wary. Other warning signs with pop-ups are if they declare the site visitor is a winner of a prize and prompt them to click a link. If the pop-up’s announcement appears to be too good to be true, avoid clicking on it. Unsafe websites will attempt all sorts of lures to propel users to click on dangerous links.

Make Website Safety a Habit

URL-checking tools are a valuable way to protect your computer and network when browsing the Internet, but there are other ways to ensure your safety. Always make sure your software is up to date and use strong passwords. Change your passwords any time they are exposed to a data breach. Also, avoid risky sites with questionable downloads. When available on sites and apps, use two-factor authentication to protect your data.

Surfing the web every day doesn’t have to be hazardous to your computer and network’s safety if you are diligent and use the proper tools to protect your browsing experience.