Shortened links can be dangerous: the State Special Communications Service of Ukraine warned of another fraudulent scheme

Fraudsters use shortened links to hide fraudulent "links". Experts advise to always check links before clicking on them. This was reported by UNN with reference to the State Special Communications Service.

Details

The agency explains that attackers can easily hide malicious websites or phishing pages under short URLs using popular services such as: "Bitly or Cuttly.

You should always check shortened links before clicking on them.

Use the service "Unshorten.it" https://unshorten.it/ to get the full address of the resource. To do this, paste the shortened link into the appropriate field on the Unshorten.it website

You should also make sure that the domain looks reliable. Cybersecurity experts advise looking for well-known domains such as: bit.ly, goo.gl, or ow.ly. Instead, you should avoid suspicious domains with spelling mistakes or random characters.

Check the reputation of the resource that you can follow the link to: 
- Do a Google search for the full link. Look for user reviews or malware warnings.
- Check the website with an online security checker, such as VirusTotal

In addition, analysts advise installing a browser extension that scans shortened links for trustworthiness and never clicking on shortened links from unknown sources, such as emails, social media posts, or suspicious websites.

Remember, it's better to be careful and not risk infecting your computer with malware, as this can lead to the loss of important data. Check shortened links carefully, especially if they come from unfamiliar or suspicious sources

Recall

The State Service for Special Communications warns of hacker attacks on Ukrainian military and civil servants through the fake website UKR.NET. The attackers are trying to hijack email accounts by sending emails with malicious links.