Check the Link Before You Open It: A Quick Routine
A ten-second routine for reading the address in a scanned QR code and spotting the signs of a suspicious link.
A preview is only useful if you know what to look for. This short routine takes a few seconds.
Step 1: read the domain
The domain is the part just after https:// and before the next slash. This is what decides where you go.
- example.com/menu goes to example.com
- example.com.other-site.net/menu goes to other-site.net, not example.com
Read from the right of the domain towards the left, up to the first slash.
Step 2: look for lookalikes
Watch for small changes in familiar names:
- swapped or missing letters
- a zero in place of the letter O
- extra words such as "secure" or "login" in the domain
Step 3: ask whether it fits
Does the address match what the code claims to be? A restaurant menu should not lead to a site asking for your bank details.
Step 4: be careful with shortened links
Short links hide the real destination. If the preview shows only a short address, treat it more cautiously.
Step 5: watch the action
Be wary if the link:
- starts a download
- asks you to log in
- asks for a payment or card details
- asks to install an app or change settings
When in doubt
- Do not open it.
- Type the known website address yourself instead.
- Ask the owner of the place where you found the code.
Physical clues
Check whether a printed code is a sticker placed over another one, or looks out of place. Tampering is one way scams work.
Tips
- Read the domain.
- Trust your suspicion.
- Open only what makes sense.
QR Code Scanner shows a preview before action, so this routine is built into your scan.
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