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.
Bulk Link Checker
Paste up to 10 URLs (one per line) to scan them all at once.
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
Wondering is this link safe? 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 in under a second:
Google Safe Browsing
Cross-references the URL against Google's database of 5 billion+ known phishing, malware, and social-engineering sites — the same list that protects Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
Phishing Detection
Detects fake login pages that impersonate banks, email providers, and social networks to steal your passwords and personal information.
Malware & File Safety
Flags dangerous file extensions (.exe, .scr, .bat, .vbs, .js) and URLs that silently trigger downloads — a leading vector for ransomware and spyware.
Redirect Chain Analysis
Follows every hop in the redirect chain to reveal the true destination URL hidden behind shortened links, tracking pixels, or bouncers.
Homograph Detection
Catches character spoofing where attackers use look-alike characters from other alphabets (e.g., paypa1.com vs paypal.com, or Cyrillic "а" for Latin "a").
Open Redirect Patterns
Detects URLs that abuse trusted-domain redirect parameters (e.g. trusted.com/?url=evil.com) to hide a malicious destination behind a legitimate-looking host.
URL Format Validation
Parses the URL for RFC compliance, detects malformed schemes, checks for excessive subdomains, credential embedding (user:pass@host), and suspicious port usage.
Every scan runs automatically — no account, no setup. Results return in under a second and are never stored or shared.
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)
The fastest way to answer is this link safe? is to run it through a trusted URL checker before you click. Follow these 4 steps to verify any suspicious link in under a minute:
-
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.
-
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.
-
3
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.
-
4
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.
Mobily Link Checker vs Other Tools
Wondering is this link safe and which checker to trust? Here's how Mobily's free link checker compares to the other tools people search for most. All three are legitimate, but each covers a different slice of the threat landscape.
| Feature | Mobily | VirusTotal | URLVoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free, no signup | |||
| Google Safe Browsing check | |||
| Follows redirect chain | |||
| Homograph / IDN detection | |||
| Open redirect detection | |||
| Results in < 1 second | 3–15s | 2–8s | |
| Canadian-hosted, PIPEDA | |||
| URL stored / public history | No | Yes | Yes |
VirusTotal and URLVoid publish submitted URLs to their public databases — something to keep in mind for sensitive internal links. Mobily never stores or shares URLs you check.
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
Quick answers to the questions we get most about checking link safety. Tap any question to expand.
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.