Phishing attacks are popular because they work. A bad actor sends you a phony link through a realistic text message or email, and you click it thinking you’re going to the official site. The fake URL then captures your login info (or other sensitive info).

Browsers and antivirus software try to block these sites, but they’re not foolproof. So, how do you learn how to spot phishing links? Look for the clues.

Check the URL

Phishing scams work because of two reasons.

People just don’t look at the links they click on.

The text in the message or email looks legitimate, but the link is actually coded to send you to a fake site.

Obviously, the second scenario is way sneakier and harder to catch immediately. But you can figure this out in a few different ways.

Option A: Consult VirusTotal

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