Check risky links before you open them
When your organisation turns on link checking, XgenPlus checks every link you click in a mail. If the link looks risky, a Link Security Alert shows the full address and the reasons, such as a spoofed or unsecured site. Click Yes I am sure, I wish to visit the link to continue, or No to stay safe.
How to check risky links before you open them
- Click a link in a mail.
- If a Link Security Alert opens, read the reasons and check the full web address it shows.
- Click No, I dont want to visit the link if anything looks wrong, or Yes I am sure, I wish to visit the link to open it.
When to use it
Meera in accounts at acme.in gets a mail asking her to "re-verify" a payment account at paypa1-secure.com. When she clicks the link, the Link Security Alert says the link may be spoofed and is outside her organisation. She clicks No and reports the mail to IT.
Reasons the alert can show
| Reason | What it means |
|---|---|
| Not your organisation's domain | The link goes to a site outside your organisation. |
| Not secured | The site uses http, not https. |
| Possibly spoofed | The address imitates another, better-known address. |
| Listed as a spam source | The domain is on a public list of known spam or abuse sources. |
| Mail already detected as spam | The mail carrying the link was flagged as spam. |
| Mixed scripts in the address | The address mixes alphabets, a common trick to fake a familiar name. |
Good to know
- The alert shows the full web address with the hint "Double check the spelling". Look for swapped letters such as 1 for l.
- Clicking an email address link opens a new mail instead of the alert.
Common questions
Why don't I ever see the Link Security Alert?
Your domain administrator must turn on the link security alert for your domain. Also, safe links open without a warning; the alert appears only when a link looks risky.
Does the check work in attached mails too?
Yes. Links in Full Comfort View and in attached mails you open in XgenPlus are checked the same way.