How to Recognize Bad URLs
A bad Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is an address that points to a website that intends to cause harm by performing such actions as misrepresenting who they are and installing spyware on your computer. It is difficult to identify a harmful address just by looking at it. Fortunately, your Web browser has the tools needed to spot the potential danger. Use the menu options in your preferred browser to create a setting that recognizes bad URLs.
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Instructions
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Firefox
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Bring up your Firefox Web browser. Click the "Options" menu and select the "Tools" item on Windows, or click the "Firefox" menu and select the "Preferences" option on a Mac.
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2
Click the "Security" button at the top of the window that appears.
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3
Click the "Block Reported Attack Sites" and "Block Reported Web Forgeries" boxes to enable these features. Firefox now stops the browser window from loading bad URLs.
Internet Explorer
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4
Launch your Internet Explorer browser and select the "Internet Options" title from the "Tools" menu.
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5
Click the "Security" title in the dialog window.
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Click the "Internet" icon that displays and then click and drag the slider menu to the "High" setting. This setting provides the maximum safeguards, which prevent dangerous pages from loading and disallows any files from being downloaded to your computer. Click the "OK" and "Apply" buttons to finish.
Safari
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7
Start your Safari Web browser and select the "Preferences" option from the "Edit" (Windows) or "Safari" (Mac) menu.
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8
Click the "Security" tab at the top of the dialog window.
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9
Click the box next to the "Warn When Visiting a Fraudulent Website" to produce a check mark. Your Safari browser now displays a warning dialog window when you are about to access a harmful website.
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