How to Recognize Suspicious Links

A link can look different from the actual destination it points to.

Do Not Rely Only on the Link Text

A link might be displayed as:

Sign in to Microsoft

while the actual destination belongs to a completely different domain.

Check the Destination

Before opening an unexpected link, inspect its actual address.

Pay particular attention to:

• unknown domains
• typos in familiar domains
• unusual subdomains
• shortened URLs
• unexpected country domains

Do Not Open Unclear Links

If you cannot establish where a link came from or where it leads, do not open it.

If you need the website, use a known bookmark or enter the address yourself instead.