Free Link Checker — Is This Link Safe?
Check if a URL is safe before clicking. Our free link safety checker scans for phishing, malware, suspicious redirects, and dangerous downloads using Google Safe Browsing.
Auto-Scan Every Shortened Link
Every link created with Mobily is automatically scanned by Google Safe Browsing. Protect your audience from phishing and malware.
Start FreeHow Our Link Checker Works
Our free link checker tool helps you verify if a URL is safe before you click it. Whether you received a suspicious email, found an unknown link on social media, or want to verify a website, our link safety checker runs 7 automated security scans:
Phishing Detection
Detects fake login pages that try to steal your passwords and personal information.
Malware Scanning
Checks against Google Safe Browsing's database of known malware-distributing sites.
Redirect Analysis
Follows redirect chains to reveal the true destination URL hidden behind shortened links.
Homograph Detection
Catches character spoofing where attackers use look-alike characters (e.g., paypa1.com vs paypal.com).
Types of Dangerous Links You Should Know About
Understanding the different types of malicious links helps you stay safe online. Here are the most common threats our link checker detects:
Phishing Links
Phishing links redirect you to fake websites designed to look like legitimate services (banks, email providers, social media). They trick you into entering your password, credit card number, or personal information. In 2025, phishing was responsible for over 80% of reported security incidents worldwide.
How to spot them: Look for misspelled domain names (amaz0n.com), unusual subdomains (login.paypal.secure-verify.com), and HTTP instead of HTTPS.
Malware Download Links
These links trigger the download of malicious software onto your device. The files may appear as PDFs, images, or software updates but contain viruses, ransomware, or spyware. Our link checker flags dangerous file extensions like .exe, .scr, .bat, and .js.
Common trick: "Your Flash Player is out of date — click here to update" or fake invoice attachments sent via email.
Redirect Chain Attacks
Attackers use multiple redirects to hide the true destination of a link. A URL that appears to point to a trusted site may bounce through several servers before landing on a malicious page. Shortened URLs are often used to obscure these redirect chains.
Our protection: Mobily's link checker follows the entire redirect chain and shows you exactly where the URL ends up.
Homograph / Lookalike Domains
These attacks use characters from non-Latin alphabets that look identical to English letters. For example, the Cyrillic "а" looks the same as the Latin "a" but resolves to a completely different website. Our scanner detects mixed-script domains and character substitutions.
Example: "аpple.com" (Cyrillic а) vs "apple.com" (Latin a) — visually identical, entirely different sites.
How to Check if a Link is Safe (Step-by-Step)
Follow these steps to verify any suspicious link before clicking:
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1
Copy the link without clicking it
Right-click the link and select "Copy link address" (or long-press on mobile). Never click a suspicious link directly — even visiting the page can trigger malicious scripts.
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2
Paste it into the link checker above
Our free URL safety checker will run 7 security scans including Google Safe Browsing, phishing detection, redirect analysis, and more.
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Review the scan results
Green means safe. Yellow means proceed with caution (some checks raised warnings). Red means the link is likely dangerous — do not visit it.
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Check the true destination URL
If the link uses a URL shortener, our checker reveals where it actually goes. Make sure the final destination matches what you expect.
Common Link Scams Targeting Canadians
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) reported over $530 million in losses to fraud in 2024. Many scams start with a malicious link. Here are the most common ones:
CRA Tax Refund Scams
Fake CRA emails claiming you have a tax refund. The link leads to a phishing page that steals your SIN and banking information. The CRA never sends refund links by email.
Canada Post Delivery Scams
SMS messages claiming a package is waiting with a link to "schedule delivery" or "pay customs fees." The link installs malware or collects your credit card information.
Interac e-Transfer Phishing
Fake emails mimicking Interac notifications asking you to "accept" a payment. The link leads to a fake banking login page. Real Interac transfers auto-deposit to your account.
Telecom Account Scams
Emails claiming your Rogers, Bell, or Telus account needs "verification." The link captures your login credentials and personal information.
Tip: Use our link checker above to verify any suspicious link before clicking. When in doubt, go directly to the company's website by typing the URL yourself.
Related Security & Link Tools
URL Shortener
Every Mobily link is auto-scanned by Google Safe Browsing. Shorten links with built-in security.
QR Code Generator
Create QR codes for your safe, verified links. Perfect for print, business cards, and marketing.
What's My IP
Check your public IP address, location, and ISP. Useful for verifying VPN connections and network security.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the link checker work?
Our link checker runs 7 automated security scans on any URL you enter: URL format validation, phishing pattern detection, dangerous file extension scanning, homograph (character spoofing) detection, redirect chain analysis, open redirect detection, and a Google Safe Browsing API scan. Results are instant and free.
Is this link safe? How can I tell?
Paste any URL into the checker above to find out if a link is safe. Our tool checks the URL against Google's database of known phishing and malware sites, analyzes the URL structure for suspicious patterns, and follows any redirects to reveal the true destination. A green "Safe" result means no threats were detected.
Can I check if a shortened URL is safe?
Yes. Our URL checker follows redirect chains, so if you paste a shortened link (from Bitly, TinyURL, or any shortener), it will reveal the true destination URL and scan it for threats. This is especially useful for links received in emails or social media messages.
Is this URL checker tool free?
Yes, you can check up to 5 URLs per day completely free, no account needed. Create a free Mobily account to get unlimited URL safety scanning on all your shortened links, plus click analytics, QR codes, and more.
How do I check if a link is a spam or phishing link?
Enter the suspicious link in the checker above. Our safe link checker will detect common phishing patterns like misspelled domain names, suspicious file downloads (.exe, .scr), homograph attacks using look-alike characters, and URLs flagged by Google Safe Browsing. If any check fails, you'll see a detailed warning.
Is this link checker tool accurate?
Our link safety checker uses Google Safe Browsing data, which protects over 5 billion devices worldwide. No scanner is 100% accurate — brand-new phishing sites may not yet be in the database — but our 7-layer scan catches the vast majority of known threats. Always exercise caution with unfamiliar links.
What is an online link checker?
An online link checker is a web-based tool that scans URLs for security threats without requiring you to install any software. You paste a URL, and the tool checks it against databases of known malicious sites, analyzes the URL structure, and follows redirects. Mobily's link checker is free, fast, and powered by Google Safe Browsing.
How do I check URL safety on my phone?
Our link checker works on all devices. On mobile: long-press the suspicious link, tap "Copy link," then visit mobily.ca/tools/url-safety-checker and paste it. The scanner works the same on iPhone, Android, tablet, and desktop — no app install required.
What should I do if a link is flagged as dangerous?
Do not click the link. If you received it by email, report it as phishing to your email provider. If it came via text message, report it to 7726 (SPAM) in Canada. If you already clicked it, change any passwords you may have entered, scan your device with antivirus software, and monitor your bank accounts for unauthorized activity.