Question

How to spot a questionable website?

Answer 1

Questionable website is a suspicious website. They are often a source of malware, scams and many bad things.

I have tried to list out things which can help one to identify these sites.

" If it is too good to be true, it probably isn't". And " if you are not sure then don't click".

1. Ads linking to websites claiming expensive things at unbelievably low prices.

2. Porn is widely used to attract to malicious sites. Use only those sites which you trust.

3. If the website link is present in the email received from an unidentified source, it may be a suspicious one.

4. You may use tools like web of trust, nortan safe web etc to identify such sites on your behalf.

5. Lots of mistakes in the spelling and the actual content may act as a hint. Example - "Help save the endangered tree octopus".

6. Checking the credibility of the author/owner, copyright date and cross-checking the information mentioned.

7. Read the URL's carefully. Suspicious sites to deceive use famous brand names. Instead of clicking on the link, you should get the link of the brand and then use it separately on the browser.

8. If payment is needed to be done for a site and if there is no SSL certificate, it signals suspicion.

9. Online shopping websites do not end in .net or .org , you may check if the site has any.

10. Be suspicious when the payment system used in the site has bank transfer option alone.

11. Online reviews from sources like Trustpilot, sitejabber can help to identify.