How to Check the Safety of an Internet Site

Co-authored by Scott Nelson, JD

Last Updated: July 1, 2021 References

Whether you're at school, work, or home, you always want to be sure that you are safely browsing the internet. These days, hackers and scammers can turn seemingly innocent links into ones that could give your computer viruses or malware, download unwanted programs, or phish. But don't get too paranoid! In this article you will learn how to check the safety and validity of websites and help protect yourself and your computer from potential threats.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Without Clicking the Link

1
Use online security software to help, Download and use an online security service such as Norton or McAfee if possible. They will detect any potential threats to your computer and alert you of any unsafe websites. Services like these often cost money, but it is worth the investment since you won't need to constantly check if you are using safe sites or not.
- Even if you can't use any security services, it is usually free to check URLs on their websites using the link scanner tool like Norton's Safe Web . You can also scan links with services like Securi.
2
Look where the page appears in Google. If you are using a search engine, such as Google, to get to the website, note how far it is from the top of the results page.
- Generally speaking, more trustworthy websites will appear at the top of your results page. The farther down you go, the more you risk clicking on an unsafe site.
- Keep in mind that people can pay to get their website closer to the top of the results list. Most hackers and scammers will not do this, but don't automatically trust the first result anyway.
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3
Hover over the link to display the full URL. Hackers and scammers often change the text of links so that you think you're clicking on one website, when you're actually being led to an unsafe site. If you hover your mouse over the link before you click it, it will display the full URL in the bottom corner of your browser. (You can test this out by hovering over the links in the list of sources for this article.)
- Even if you use an online security service, this is a good precautionary step for new, unfamiliar websites.
It may sound stupid, but if you don't think a link is safe, you shouldn't click it. ^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Scott Nelson, JD
Police Sergeant, Mountain View Police Department

Expert Interview. 2 April 2020.} After all, nobody is forcing you. If the URL looks suspicious or it looks like a scam, it may be an unsafe site.

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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

When You're on the Site

1
Check for the author's/creator's information. Is there a place you can find the creator's contact information (name, email address, phone number, etc)? Most widely used, safe sites such as Facebook or WikiHow do. If you are on a scamming or phishing website, they most likely won't leave you a way to reach them in fear of getting caught.
- All sites are different, and some scamming or phishing sites may have fake contact information as a way to trick you into trusting them. If you can safely do so, double check that the information is legit. ^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Scott Nelson, JD
  Police Sergeant, Mountain View Police Department
  
  Expert Interview. 2 April 2020.}
2
Do a quick scan of the website.
- Are there any grammar or punctuation issues? Misspelled words? Sometimes when scammers or hackers are in a rush, they will forget to check these things. Commercial websites such retail stores or banks wouldn't have simple errors like this.
- Is there a company logo anywhere? How about pictures? If the site doesn't look professional, it probably isn't. Even if the site is safe, you probably don't want to trust any info you find there. If they didn't take the time to make the site, they probably didn't take time to research either.
- Does it request your personal information? Are there suspicious attachments or deals that are too good to be true? Hackers and scammers often want to trick you into handing over personal information, so think before you enter any "contests" that require a credit card number. ^{[3]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Scott Nelson, JD
  Police Sergeant, Mountain View Police Department
  
  Expert Interview. 2 April 2020.}
3
If you are still unsure, do a more thorough check.
- Are there real links mixed with fake links? Sometimes this can signal a fraud, as people mimicking another website will often have real links to a privacy policy or a terms of service page amongst links to fraud websites. They do this to make it appear more "real".
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Question

What are some Internet safety issues?

Scott Nelson, JD
Police Sergeant, Mountain View Police Department
Scott Nelson is a Police Sergeant with the Mountain View Police Department in California. He is also a practicing attorney for Goyette & Associates, Inc. where he represents public employees with a myriad of labor issues throughout the state. He has over 15 years of experience in law enforcement and specializes in digital forensics. Scott has received extensive training through the National Computer Forensics Institute and holds forensic certifications from Cellbrite, Blackbag, Axiom Forensics, and others. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the California State University Stanislaus and a Juris Doctorate from the Laurence Drivon School of Law.

Scott Nelson, JD

Police Sergeant, Mountain View Police Department

Expert Answer

Beware of popups! Phishing scams will sometimes direct you to a real website with pop-ups leading to a fake or unsafe one.

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What does spam look like?

Scott Nelson, JD
Police Sergeant, Mountain View Police Department
Scott Nelson is a Police Sergeant with the Mountain View Police Department in California. He is also a practicing attorney for Goyette & Associates, Inc. where he represents public employees with a myriad of labor issues throughout the state. He has over 15 years of experience in law enforcement and specializes in digital forensics. Scott has received extensive training through the National Computer Forensics Institute and holds forensic certifications from Cellbrite, Blackbag, Axiom Forensics, and others. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the California State University Stanislaus and a Juris Doctorate from the Laurence Drivon School of Law.

Scott Nelson, JD

Police Sergeant, Mountain View Police Department

Expert Answer

Spam can look very similar to a regular email. What you really want to pay attention to is the very distinct differences in the header on the email. For example, if you get an email from Amazon.com, that's normal. Spam may come from what looks like Amazon, but it's spelled A-M-A-S-O-N. Also, in most web browsers, you can put your mouse over the header of the email and it will show you the email address you're receiving it from. If it's from Chase Bank, for example, it should be something with chase.org or chase.gov. Spam will have a completely different email address once you put your mouse on it.

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Tips

Remember, some smaller websites (even if they are safe) will not include contact information. Just because a site doesn't have it, don't jump to the conclusion that it is unsafe right away.

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If you do find or suspect an unsafe website or a scam, exit the page. Then it is recommended that you run an antivirus scan on your computer and warn people not to go on that website.

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If you are still unsure of a website's safety and validity after trying all of the things above, stop using it. Remember to trust your gut feeling, but don't get too paranoid. You can always ask a parent, teacher, or even your boss if you want a second opinion.

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Warnings

None of the strategies listed above are guaranteed to alert you of a fake or unsafe site. Use these tips at your own risk.

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[1]

Expert Source

Scott Nelson, JD
Police Sergeant, Mountain View Police Department

[2]

[3]

How to Check the Safety of an Internet Site

Steps

Without Clicking the Link

When You're on the Site

Expert Q&A

Tips

Warnings

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