Guide · By DueTrack Studio · Updated 2026-10-29
How to check if a link is safe before you open it
To check if a link is safe, read the full web address before opening it: confirm the real domain (the part just before .com, .org or the country code), watch for misspellings and extra words, expand shortened links to see where they lead, and be suspicious of any page that asks you to log in or pay after an unexpected message. When in doubt, type the official address yourself.
Where is the real domain in a web address?
In https://login.example.com.secure-update.net, the real domain is secure-update.net — not example.com. Read from the right, just before the first single slash.
What are the warning signs of a phishing link?
- Misspelled brand names or extra letters.
- Brand names placed in front of a different domain.
- Shortened links that hide the destination.
- Urgent wording: account locked, payment failed, parcel waiting.
- Login or payment pages reached from a message you did not expect.
What should you do with a suspicious link?
- Don't open it.
- Go to the official site or app by typing it yourself.
- Report it to the organisation being impersonated.
- If you entered details, change the password and contact your bank.
Questions
Someone texted me a link about my parcel. How do I know if it's real?
Don't tap it. Check the sender and the real domain, then track the parcel by typing the courier's official website yourself.
Are shortened links dangerous?
Not always, but they hide the destination. Expand them first to see the real address.