There are different ways to check if a link is suspicious or not, but here are a few steps you can take:
Hover over the link: Before clicking on a link, hover your mouse over it to reveal the URL. Check if the URL looks legitimate and matches the expected destination. For example, if the link claims to be from your bank, but the URL is different from your bank's website, it's likely a phishing attempt.
Check the domain name: Look at the domain name of the website. Make sure it is spelled correctly and matches the legitimate website you are trying to visit. For example, a fake website for a bank might use a domain name that is similar to the legitimate bank's website, but with a different spelling or an extra letter.
Look for HTTPS: If you're entering personal information on a website, make sure the site is using HTTPS encryption. This is indicated by a lock icon in the address bar of your web browser. If the site doesn't use HTTPS, it's not secure and your information could be intercepted by an attacker.
Use a link scanner: There are online tools that can analyze a link and check if it's safe or not. For example, VirusTotal.com allows you to scan a URL and see if it's been flagged as malicious by antivirus software.
Here's an example of a suspicious link:
Let's say you receive an email that claims to be from your bank and includes a link to "verify your account information." The link is https://bankverify-information.com.
Upon closer inspection, you notice that the domain name is not the same as your bank's legitimate website. Instead, it's a different domain name with the word "bank" in it. This is a red flag that the link is suspicious and could be a phishing attempt to steal your account information. In this case, it's best to delete the email and not click on the link.
Let's say you receive an email that claims to be from a well-known company and includes a link to a special promotion. The link is http://www.specialoffer-123.com.
Upon closer inspection, you notice that the domain name is not the same as the well-known company's legitimate website. Instead, it's a different domain name with a generic name like "specialoffer." This is a red flag that the link may be suspicious and could be a phishing attempt to trick you into revealing personal information or installing malware on your device.
In this case, it's best to not click on the link and instead go directly to the company's legitimate website to see if the promotion is real. If you do decide to click on the link, you can use a link scanner tool to check if the website has been flagged as malicious by antivirus software
Here's another example:
You receive an email from your bank that claims there is an issue with your account and asks you to click on a link to login and verify your information. The link in the email is https://www.bankverification.com.
Upon closer inspection, you notice that the domain name is not the same as your bank's legitimate website. Instead, it's a different domain name with a generic name like "bankverification." This is a red flag that the link may be a phishing attempt to trick you into giving away your login credentials and other personal information.
To verify if the email is legitimate, you can contact your bank's customer service department using a phone number from their official website, and ask them if they sent you the email. Do not click on the link or reply to the email, as this may confirm your email address to the attacker and make you more vulnerable to further attacks
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