The topic aims at newbies, but it might be useful for older users, who spend little time in the forum, to discover, and to learn.
Phising links are one of the most terrible things that make-money-online guys have to face with.
I am not sure, but I guess that there is no stupid phisers will put their phising links directly, instead they tend to hide them inside url link.
I give you an example, in which I presents three ways to post link to the topic you are reading.
1) Hidden linkSteps to check potential phising links2) Direct linkhttps://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/steps-to-check-potential-phising-links-5130231Phisers never post their phising links that way because no one is stupid and lazy too much to fall into their opened traps like this (very limited people will fall into such bad trap).
3) Shortened linksExample:
https://bit.ly/2Vzd1C9
I posted the link with code because I don't want you to unintentionally click on the link. Please don't click on the link or any link like this.
SOLUTIONSSo, how to check that links are potential phising links or not?
It is very easy, what you have to do is only
four steps:1) Don't hurry too much, don't lazy too much to immediately click on the topic or article links, whichever links hidden via url links.
If you find something interesting with their posts, and have intention to get more information they shared with hidden links, it's good to stop at this step, and move to the second step.
2) Clicking on the quote button to see which are hidden links or shortened links
If you find that the links inside url are familiar, it is safely to move next to read and get information.
If you find that the links inside url are un-familiar, it is better to stop at this, and do next steps.
For example:If you click on the quote button to quote my OP, you will see hidden link like this:
[url=https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/steps-to-check-potential-phising-links-5130231]Steps to check potential phising links[/url]
And, the link is safe, because it leads to official bitcointalk.org forum, right?
Another way to check is hovering on the link, the you will see the link behind.
For example:1. The image show the link hidden in the topic titles posted by DdmrDdmr, you can see the link in the left corner at the bottom of your browser by hovering your mouse on the topic title. It is easy, isn't it?
2. In the second example, I create a hidden link behind the phrase Bitcointalk Forum, that will lead you to a fake bitcointalk site. Please remember it will lead to a fake bitcointalk site, so please don't log in your bitcointalk account on that site. Your account might be hacked. I don't advertise for fake site here. It's just an example and it is another way to help you know about one of fake bitcointalk sites.
Bitcointalk ForumIf you really click on the link, it will lead you to the fake forum
It will become worse if you click on link that lead you to more dangerous sites, so please don't click on suspicious links.
Instead, one again, please hover your mouse on the suspicious link, then you will see hidden link behind. Like this:
You can see the link will lead you to bitcointalk[dot]com (that is fake/ scam forum).
3) Searching with the potential phising sites/ links with key words including their names + phising links/ phising sites.
Next, if the link you see after quoting or hovering looks risky, strange, you should do more search on those sites' reputation.
Key words should be used are:
- phising
- scam
- fake
- site name/ domain nameAnother way is to check suspicious link with tools (I don't know about them well, so appreciate if someone can help).
whotookmycrypto suggested a site to check suspicious links, but someone else said even that site is not safe. So, please decide using it or not with your own interest.
4) Disable phising links found on your computer
After links determined as phising links, you should do the last step.
Another one to be added to your hosts files then.
On Windows, navigate to "C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\", and open the hosts file in a text editor.
On Mac, navigate to "/private/etc/", and open the hosts file in a text editor.
On Linux, open terminal and write "sudo nano /etc/hosts"
Add the following two lines to the bottom of the hosts file:
0.0.0.0 bitcointalk.to
0.0.0.0 fonstavka.com
Your browser will now be unable to open those two phishing sites.
SHOULD READ:What with bitcointalk .COM, it's a bit misleading.[GUIDE] Use this for identifying Scam/Phishing/ Websites & Exchanges in Crypto
Other tips contributed by participants in the topic:
For most famous redirect website, you can just add a "+" (plus symbol) at the end of the URL and you'll go to a page where it shows everything about the redirection link (the final destination, clicks, stats, etc...).
Example:
https://bit.ly/2Vzd1C9+
CONTRIBUTORSI appreciate to all contributors whom help me to make the topic better.
whotookmycryptoDdmrDdmrr1a2y3m4TryNinja GreatArkansas 
