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Are links safe?
Board: Yakking It Up
Jan 13, 2019 3:25pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Ryan, I have a question. When people post links on AQ, I've been freely clicking on them (like when I got Rick Rolled -- again! -- today. 8~P) And then my DH asked how I know the links are safe to click on. Does AQ have a way of somehow 'vetting' these links? Is that even possible? Could they carry something that might infect my computer with something nefarious? How do we know if they are safe since they come from so many sources? Or do we not know that at all? TIA.
Re: Are links safe?
Board: Yakking It Up
Reply to: #970279 by Boxer Lover47
Jan 13, 2019 5:23pm
Thread (disabled) Board
As the person who posted the link in question, I will say on my on behalf, that is only time in my life I've posted a joke link. But given the meta nature of the thread/response I think the funny was worth the stretch... I mean Rick Aston is pretty benign.

That being said, as a practical matter in the case of the many message boards I frequent It's up to the members to behave themselves. Posting a link to porn or viruses will get your URL banned. On some VB bulletin sites you can hoover your cursor over the link and it will preview.

On my desk computer that won't work here but on my phone touching and holding the link will preview it.

Hope that helps... and sorry! ;~)
Re: Are links safe?
Board: Yakking It Up
Reply to: #970279 by Boxer Lover47
Jan 13, 2019 8:46pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Does AQ have a way of somehow 'vetting' these links?

Not really. If there's a problem post, people can report it and moderators can delete it, so I'd like to think that problematic links won't last very long.

But there are steps you can take. If you're on a desktop computer and hover over the link, check where it links to. If it links to youtube.com, it's probably not going to have any porn or viruses on it.

Another thing to consider is who is posting. If it's someone with a long history on AQ in good standing, they probably aren't posting links to dangerous or inappropriate sites. If it's someone who signed up a day or two earlier.... they're pretty unvetted and it would be prudent to be a little more careful about clicking their links.

Browsers will often tell you if you try to go to a webpage known to be problematic so you have that protection as well. Either because the browser itself flags the website as suspicious or because you installed McAfee or Avast or something that will block access temporarily asking if you're sure you want to go there before taking you to the page.

But that said, for the most part, it's kind of hard for a website to do real damage just by clicking to it. I'm not saying that it's impossible, but it's not easy. They typically have to trick you into installing software, or trick you into entering private information, etc.

So for the most part, I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Even if you do accidentally click to a bad website, chances are nothing permanently bad will happen without additional steps. But say no if it asks you to download or install something, or fill out a form (especially if they ask for personal information), etc.

-- Ryan
Re: Are links safe?
Board: Yakking It Up
Reply to: #970294 by Green Tortuga
Jan 15, 2019 1:08pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Thanks for your reply, Ryan. All good points, and I do feel pretty safe on AQ. 8~)