The Internet is rife with threats, and sometimes it can be difficult to determine if a link is safe to click. Cybercriminals try to hide malicious code inside links to trick victims into clicking them, and a link scanner can help prevent this by flagging suspicious sites before they’re accessed.
A link scanner is a cybersecurity tool that checks a URL against security databases and blacklists to identify potential malicious links. Some security tools can also check images and files for malware. Some of these tools are included in anti-virus software suites offered by companies such as AVG, Avast!, and Symantec.
In addition to scanning for malware, a link scanner can also be used to scan for phishing threats. These can be harder to detect than malware attacks, since they rely on social engineering instead of computer vulnerabilities. A good link scanner should be able to detect zero-day malicious links, as well as established ones.
There are several different kinds of link scanners available online, including reputation and real time scanners. Reputation scanners check a URL against a database of ratings that are compiled from the input of other users. The WOT (Web of Trust) browser add-on is a famous example of this kind of service, and more than 26 million people use it to check out Web sites before visiting them.
A real time scanner works in the background to protect a user from malware attacks by identifying malicious URLs and blocking them before they’re accessed. This type of protection is usually built into security programs from vendors such as AVG, BitDefender, and Avast!.
The best link scanner should be able to recognize both known and unknown malware, viruses, Trojans, and other cyberattacks. It should also be able to flag phishing sites and other types of unauthorized redirections. Some tools also use machine learning to identify phishing attacks and other threats that are not caught by current detection methods.
One way to check a link’s safety is to run it through a free, online tool such as VirusTotal. Another option is to install a Chrome extension such as VTChromizer, which makes it easier to scan links from within the browser. If you don’t want to download and install an app, you can also use a service such as ChecShortURL, which will reveal the destination of a short link without opening it.
Some Web sites offer a free, automatic link scanner that analyzes a site’s code to look for dangerous files and warns you if any are found. The most popular of these is probably SiteCheck, which is owned by domain registrar GoDaddy. It’s easy to use and doesn’t require any registration or login information.
Another free, easy-to-use online tool for checking links is Sucuri, which specializes in website security services. Its free Link Checker will scan a given link and display its results instantly. The result is a detailed report on the link’s history, including details about any black ticks against it and where the site is based.