How do I scan URLs for viruses?
When people refer to a URL virus scanner, they usually mean scanning a URL for malicious code. This is a great place to begin checking if a website is a malware. You will need to perform additional checks. These are important to know. These will help your employees stay safe online (at work and home) as well as help you understand your customers’ needs.
What URL virus scans can and cannot tell you
A URL virus scanner determines the authentic URL (which may not be displayed on your screen). The site is then scanned for potential danger signs. It generally checks the URL against a list of known issues.
This list is constantly changing, which is important to remember. Sites created for malicious purposes are often quickly identified and removed. Two problems exist. First, malicious actors can create new sites to replace theirs.
Hackers can also attack legitimate websites to make them temporarily malignant. These sites’ owners will need to take back control (which can be difficult), clean them thoroughly (which can also be difficult), and remove them from the blacklist. This is a simple process but can take some time.
It is therefore crucial that your URLvirus scan utilizes the most current information. Old information can lead to it missing malicious sites or misidentifying sites that were once benign but have since been fixed.
A URL virus scanner will tell you the URL and identify if it’s malicious. However, it won’t tell you if it’s being run by social-engineering scammers.
How to identify scam websites
URL viruses scanners are limited so you need to be careful when surfing the internet. You should make sure that you apply the same common-sense checks to any website you visit. These are some suggestions.
Verify the overall quality of the website
Poor page load speeds, poor navigation, and poor content are no excuses these days. These are signs of a lackluster effort, to put it bluntly. Even if the site isn’t run by scammers it’s unlikely that they will be run by people you wish to do business with.
Scammers can put considerable effort into their websites to make them look professional and functional. They are unlikely to invest in creating original content. This is often evident when they use only stock photography on their key pages. It is easy to identify stock photography at first glance, so it is an efficient way to test a website.
Like the comments before, even if the site appears to be legitimate in principle, you are unlikely to lose much by not using it. If a company isn’t able to spend any effort on its website, then why should you expect it to invest in its products and services or customer service?
Contact details
This is an important point for modern customers. Ironically, as we depend more on the internet, it is more important to know that there is a human behind the virtual storefront. As this provides maximum security, it’s great to be able to give a real-world location. Privacy is something you will need to consider. Some companies may find it safer to use a PO box.
It is also preferable to provide a landline phone number, or at the very least, a telephone number that looks like a regular landline number. VoIP numbers can be obtained that are identical to regular landline telephone numbers. However, you must ensure that the dialing code is correct. At a minimum, you need to provide an email address that is linked to your domain. Not a free email address.
Privacy policy
You must have a privacy statement if you collect any customer data. It should be easily accessible and readable. You must ensure that it meets acceptable standards. To remove malware and viruses from your website, scan the URL.