Identifying Trustworthy Links

Links: Some are trustworthy; others steal data or spread malware. Identifying which are legitimate and which are malicious is a vital part of security and can be accomplished by closely inspecting the website URL in the link. Here’s how to do that on traditional computers and mobile devices:

The Hover Over (Traditional Computers)

What it is: The process of hovering your mouse pointer, or cursor, over a link.
What it does: Reveals the full URL of links that are embedded in text, logos, and other icons.
What it accomplishes Helps you identify links that have been manipulated by cybercriminals. For example, a button that says “log into account” might direct you to a malicious website, but you wouldn’t know that without hovering.

The Long Press (Mobile Devices)

What it is: The process of pressing and holding links on mobile devices like phones and tablets.
What it does: Since mobile devices don’t have a mouse, the long press achieves the same thing as hovering a mouse pointer or cursor.
What it accomplishes: Allows you to confirm the legitimacy of any links you may encounter on your mobile device, such as in email or other forms of communication.

As a best security practice, you should always hover your mouse over links when using a traditional computer. But should you always use the long-press method when on mobile?

Unfortunately, the long press works for some apps and some devices, but not all apps on all devices. Furthermore, an attempt to press and hold a link could accidentally turn into a click, which could turn into a security incident.