Not all links are created equal.
Sometimes a download link looks fine — but one click later, you’re downloading malware or worse.
The good news is:
You can check if a link is safe before clicking it.
Here’s how.
✅ 1. Hover your mouse over the link
This is the simplest trick in the book.
Just hover your mouse over the link (don’t click), and check the bottom-left corner of your browser.
It will show the actual URL the link points to.
✅ Watch out for:
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Weird spellings (
adobee.com,g00gle.download) -
Suspicious file extensions (
.exe,.scr,.apkon random sites) -
Extra-long or encoded URLs
✅ 2. Use a link scanner tool
You don’t have to visit a site to know if it’s safe.
Paste the URL into a free scanner:
These services scan the link with dozens of antivirus engines.
✅ 3. Check domain reputation manually
Go to WHOIS tools or security review platforms like:
You can find:
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Who owns the domain
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When it was created (brand-new sites are red flags)
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If other users reported scams or malware
✅ 4. Use browser safety plugins
Install extensions like:
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Bitdefender TrafficLight
-
McAfee WebAdvisor
-
Norton Safe Web
These tools add safety ratings to search results and warn you before you visit dangerous links.
✅ 5. Trust your gut (and your tools)
If a download link feels shady, too good to be true, or has no context — don’t touch it.
Look for:
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No HTTPS
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Fake buttons
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Pop-ups before the file starts downloading
Key points to remember
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Hover over links to preview the true destination
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Use VirusTotal or URLVoid to scan suspicious URLs
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Check domain age and trust score with WHOIS and WOT
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Install browser plugins that add safety layers
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Never click blindly — one second of caution beats hours of cleanup