Protecting your data and privacy online starts with one simple rule: avoid malicious websites. By sticking to secure, encrypted sites, you can dodge a lot of the common traps that hackers set. But the big question remains—how do you identify malicious websites before you even click on them?
That’s exactly what we’re diving into today. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started on your online safety journey, there are some must-know tools to identify malicious websites and best practices to help you steer clear of them. Let’s break it down.
The risks of visiting malicious websites
The internet has been around for decades now. Is it really still dangerous to land on the wrong side of the internet?
Unfortunately, yes. Cybersecurity threats are real. Forbes reported that over 300 million people were the victims of cybercrime in 2023 alone. In other words, landing on a malicious website can be a huge risk to your personal data and the health of your device.
The risk is in the name: a malicious site is one designed to cause harm. Those risks include:
- Stolen data: Hackers can use malicious websites to steal sensitive information. In particular, “lookalike” sites have been known to steal user passwords, user names, and credit card information.
- Malware: Many malicious websites contain computer viruses that can be used to cause many forms of destruction. Some malware will steal your information, others will spy on your activity, and some of the most powerful malware can destroy your device.
- Ransomware: Ransomware is a growing threat where hackers essentially lock you out of your own data. Once infected, your files become encrypted, and the hacker demands a ransom—usually money—to unlock them. Even if you pay up, there’s no guarantee you’ll get access back. In the worst-case scenario, the data could be sold or deleted altogether, leaving you with serious damage to both your finances and peace of mind.
- Malvertising: A portmanteau for malicious advertising, this is a sneaky form of attack where hackers inject bad ads into seemingly legitimate websites. You don’t even have to click on the ad to be at risk—just loading the webpage can trigger the malware. These ads can spread viruses, spy on your browsing habits, or lead you to dangerous websites. What makes malvertising particularly insidious is that it can appear on trusted sites, catching users off guard.
Tools that identify malicious websites
A safe major browser: Many top internet browsers offer add-on security tools through extensions to reduce the likelihood of stumbling upon a malicious website.
- Ad blockers, for instance, can help block malicious banner ads.
- IPVanish Secure Browser keeps your browsing activity off your device and in a cloud sandbox to ensure any malicious website you encounter is sequestered from your device.
- Even Chromium browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Edge, Brave, and more) come with Google Safe Browsing, which can at least warn users about potentially harmful websites, phishing attempts, and dangerous downloads.
Use a link checker: Tools like the IPVanish Link Checker analyze the links you submit to determine if the destination page is legitimate or suspicious. These tools inspect the website’s code, content, and behavior to identify many red flags—like malicious scripts, phishing attempts, or harmful downloads—before you interact with the site. As a free tool, a link checker is the easiest way to identify malicious websites.
Use a trusted VPN: While a VPN (Virtual Private Network) offers many privacy and security benefits, it’s essential to understand its limitations when identifying malicious websites and protecting against them. A VPN primarily encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a secure server, which helps mask your IP address and protect your online activity from prying eyes. Usually, VPN technology alone cannot identify malicious websites that contain malware.
Here’s what a standard VPN can provide:
- Encryption: A VPN encrypts the data you send and receive, making it unreadable to third parties—including hackers and snoopers. This helps protect your information while you’re browsing, but it won’t shield you from malware that a malicious website might try to deliver.
- IP Address Masking: A VPN masks your real IP address by routing your connection through one of its servers. This helps prevent websites, including malicious ones, from easily identifying your location or device. However, while this increases your privacy and anonymity, it doesn’t inherently block malicious content.
- ISP Avoidance: Since a VPN encrypts your traffic, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can’t see or track which websites you visit. This can help prevent certain attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in ISP-provided DNS servers, though again, this doesn’t inherently protect you from malware on websites you visit.
Some VPNs, like IPVanish, come equipped with additional features like Threat Protection, which actively scans and blocks access to known harmful websites as well as malvertising. This adds a layer of security to VPN connections that can help you identify malicious websites and avoid visiting them in the first place.
Secure browsing best practices
It’s not enough to simply use good cybersecurity tools. While it may not always help you to identify malicious websites, if you want to avoid them you’ll also need to adopt good cybersecurity hygiene. Here’s how:
Visit HTTPS websites: When browsing the internet, make sure to visit websites that use HTTPS rather than HTTP. The “S” stands for “secure,” meaning the website encrypts the information you share, protecting it from prying eyes. Many browsers will show a padlock icon in the address bar, indicating the connection is secure. Avoid entering personal or financial information on sites that lack this protection, as they may expose your data to cybercriminals.
Keep software updated: Regularly update your operating system, browsers, and apps. Many cyberattacks exploit known vulnerabilities, which are often patched in updates. Automatic updates help ensure that you’re protected from the latest threats without needing to remember to install them.
Use strong, randomized passwords: Create strong passwords that combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid reusing passwords across different sites. To make things easier, consider using a password generator to create secure, unique passwords, and a password manager to safely store them all for you.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password. By requiring a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone or an authentication app, you make it much harder for hackers to access your accounts even if your password is compromised.
Beware of phishing scams: Phishing is a go-to tactic for cybercriminals to steal your information. Be extra cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unexpected emails or messages—especially if they seem suspicious, urgent, or request personal information.
Regularly back up your data: Even with strong cybersecurity practices, breaches can still happen. Regularly backup important files to an external hard drive or cloud storage. This ensures that, in the event of ransomware attacks, you won’t lose your most important information.
Use antivirus tools: A good antivirus solution can help detect and block malicious software before it causes harm. Keep your security software updated and run regular scans to identify potential threats.
Log out of accounts when done: Especially when using public or shared devices, make sure to log out of accounts when you’re finished. Staying logged in can allow unauthorized individuals to access your data if they gain access to the device.
While practicing these safety habits is essential, pairing them with the right tools is key to staying safer online. A reliable VPN, especially one with built-in threat protection, will encrypt your data, keep you more anonymous, and help block dangerous websites before you even land on them. With the right combination of awareness and technology, you can navigate the web more confidently and securely.