Nearly every phishing email, smishing text, or chat scam has one thing in common: a malicious URL. These deceptive links are designed to trick you into visiting harmful websites or executing hidden code that compromises your data and security. Scammers are constantly evolving their tricks, but their goal remains the same – getting you to click. Whether it’s a fake login page, a disguised download, or a redirect to a malware-heavy site, the link is often the gateway to the attack. Recognizing their threats is your first line of defense.
Common URL Tricks to Watch Out For
Here are some of the most common techniques used to disguise malicious links:
- Look-alike domains – Slight misspellings or extra characters (e.g.,
micros0ft.com) - Domain mismatches – The visible link doesn’t match the actual destination
- URL shortening – Services like bit.ly can hide the true URL
- URL character encoding – Obscures the real link using special characters
- Homograph attacks – Uses characters from other alphabets that look similar
- Overly long URLs – Buries the malicious part deep in a long string
- Cross-site scripting (XSS) – Injects malicious code into trusted sites
- Malicious redirection – Sends you to a harmful site after a brief stop at a legitimate one
- Fake 404 pages – Mimics error pages to trick users into clicking elsewhere
- Fake file attachment images – Looks like a document but is actually a link
- Rogue digital certificates – Fakes security credentials to appear trustworthy
- Password hash theft – Captures login data through deceptive forms
How to Protect Yourself
The simplest and most effective way to verify a link is to hover your cursor over it before clicking. This reveals the actual URL, allowing you to check if it matches what’s being promised. If something feels off—don’t click.
Want to Learn More?
For a deeper dive into each of these URL tricks, check out the graphic and article linked below. Staying informed is your best defense against digital deception.
KwowBe412 Most Common Rogue URL Tricks – https://blog.knowbe4.com/top-12-most-common-rogue-url-tricks
KnowBe4 The Red Flags of Rogue URLs – https://www.knowbe4.com/hubfs/Red%20Flags%20of%20Rogue%20URLs%20(3).pdf