You can learn information about web addresses (URLs) by looking at some of their components.

Finding the Important Parts of a Complex Address

In a complicated address, like http://cornell.astromundo.com/Lcons/small/emailchange/, the real domain is always positioned before the first slash.

Tricks Criminals Use

In emails and on the web, criminals often create a link that LOOKS LIKE a legitimate web address and links somewhere different. The same concerns apply to links on a web page, especially advertisements.

For example, here is a link claiming to be from Cornell (as seen in a phish): https://www.cornell.edu/webmail/addres-137865476

However, the underlying address was something completely different: http://www.astromundo.com.mx/Lcons/small/emailchange/

Test links BEFORE you click them

Hold your mouse over links (without clicking!) whenever you aren't 100% sure you trust the email or the website. If the underlying link doesn't match, be really careful.

Also be cautious of any link that doesn’t clearly indicate where it leads, like links that say (hover over these to see what's hidden beneath):

• click here
• or those provided by URL shortening services (tinyURL, bitly, etc.)

See why learning how to check links is important in the following video. Email Phishing 101: A look at the Java phish that caught many Cornellians by surprise  

What Extension Names Mean

Not all websites use .com. Here are explanations for others you might encounter on the web.