How to spot and avoid malicious landing pages

While most cyberattacks begin with an email, or an instant messaging text, they rarely conclude there. Email clients have some level of protection and won’t allow malware to be distributed that easily.

So, crooks will try to get their victims to visit a website without proper security, or controls. A website under their control, that they can easily weaponize.

Since the victims are supposed to “land” there, from an email or a text, they are called Landing Pages. 

These pages may appear legitimate, but don’t be fooled - they can steal sensitive information, install malware on your device, or trick you into downloading harmful files. 

For small business owners, malicious landing pages pose a particularly serious risk. A successful attack can result in financial losses, data breaches, or damage to your business’s reputation.

How to spot a malicious landing page

Fortunately, with some vigilance and basic knowledge, you can identify many malicious landing pages. Here’s what to watch for:

Unusual or generic URLs

Carefully examine the URL of the page. If it includes strange characters, unnecessary subdomains, or doesn’t match the company it claims to represent, it’s a red flag.

Example: Instead of www.paypal.com, you might see www.paypal-secure-login.xyz.

Urgent or too-good-to-be-true offers

Malicious landing pages often use scare tactics like “Your account will be locked in 24 hours” or enticing offers like “Claim your free iPhone now!”

Be skeptical of pages that pressure you into taking immediate action.

Poor design and AI-generated content

While spelling and grammar has all but evaporated with the emergence of generative AI, there are still red flags that can be spotted on face level. Malicious pages often have outdated designs, or low-quality images. Being mindful of AI, if you see AI-generated images, that should also be cause for concern (no serious business will use these on their landing pages).

Requests for sensitive information

Be cautious if a page asks for sensitive details, such as your login credentials, credit card information, or Social Security number, without a valid reason.

Always verify the source before entering any personal or financial data.

No HTTPS or security certificate

Legitimate landing pages have valid certificates, issued by a trusted authority. Malicious landing pages don’t.

You can look for those in the address bar of your web browser. On the left corner, there is either a padlock, or an information button.

Here’s how it looks on Chrome:

And here is on Edge:

And here is on Firefox:

While not foolproof, the absence of these can indicate a lack of security.

How to stay safe

Avoid clicking unverified links: Don’t click on links in emails or messages from unknown sources. Instead, hover over the link to preview the URL.

Use antivirus software: Install reputable antivirus software to block malicious sites and downloads.

Keep software updated: Regularly update your browsers and operating systems to patch security vulnerabilities.

Bookmark trusted websites: Save frequently visited sites to bookmarks, so you don’t accidentally navigate to a fraudulent page.

Educate yourself and your team: Awareness is your first line of defense. Share these tips with employees or family members involved in the business.

Stay safe

Crooks are getting more sophisticated, but that doesn’t mean all is lost. By staying alert and following simple precautions, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to malicious landing pages. Remember, never trust - always verify.

Until next time,

• Sead from SmallBiz CyberWiz