How to Check If a Website Is Safe Before Visiting

Malicious websites are everywhere — phishing pages that steal login credentials, fake online stores that take your money and never deliver, sites that install malware through drive-by downloads, and scam sites that harvest personal information.

In 2025, it's estimated that over 1.5 million new phishing sites are created every month. Many of them look convincingly legitimate, with professional designs and realistic domain names. Taking 30 seconds to verify a website before entering any personal information can save you from identity theft, financial loss, and malware infections.

A valid SSL certificate (HTTPS padlock) is the minimum bar for any legitimate website. Use LookMyIP's SSL Checker at lookmyip.com/ssl to verify:

• Is the certificate valid? An expired or self-signed certificate is a red flag.
• Does it match the domain? A certificate for "example.com" on a site at "examp1e.com" indicates spoofing.
• Who issued it? Legitimate CAs include Let's Encrypt, DigiCert, Comodo, and GlobalSign. Unknown issuers are suspicious.
• What type is it? DV (Domain Validation) certificates prove nothing about the organization — they only prove someone controls the domain. EV/OV certificates require verified identity.

Important: HTTPS doesn't mean a site is trustworthy — it only means the connection is encrypted. Phishing sites increasingly use free SSL certificates to look legitimate. HTTPS is necessary but not sufficient.

Use LookMyIP's WHOIS Lookup at lookmyip.com/whois to check the domain's registration details:

Red flags to watch for:

• Very recent registration: A domain registered days or weeks ago claiming to be an established business is suspicious. Legitimate businesses have been around for years.
• Hidden registration: While privacy protection is common and legitimate, a suspicious site with hidden WHOIS data gives you no way to verify the operator.
• Short registration period: Scam sites often register domains for just one year (the minimum). Legitimate businesses typically register for multiple years.
• Mismatched registrar location: A site claiming to be a US company but registered through a registrar in a different country may warrant extra scrutiny.

Check the domain age and combine it with other signals. A 10-year-old domain is more likely legitimate than a 10-day-old domain.

Look up the website's IP address using LookMyIP to see:

• IP reputation: Use the IP Reputation Checker (lookmyip.com/reputation) to check if the hosting IP is flagged for malicious activity, is a known proxy or VPN endpoint, or is associated with hosting abuse.
• Blacklist status: Use the Blacklist Checker (lookmyip.com/blacklist) to see if the IP is listed on spam or abuse blacklists.
• Hosting provider: Check what company hosts the site. Legitimate businesses typically use reputable hosting providers (AWS, Google Cloud, Cloudflare, etc.), while some cheap hosting providers are known for tolerating abuse.
• Geolocation mismatch: A site claiming to be a local UK business but hosted on servers in an unrelated country could be suspicious.

These checks alone don't prove a site is malicious, but combined with other signals, they help build a picture.

Before entering personal information or making a purchase on an unfamiliar website, run through this checklist:

• Does the URL look correct? Watch for typosquatting (amazom.com, paypa1.com)
• Does it have a valid SSL certificate? (Check with LookMyIP's SSL Checker)
• How old is the domain? (Check with WHOIS Lookup)
• Does the site have a physical address, phone number, and contact page?
• Are there reviews of this business on independent sites (Trustpilot, BBB)?
• Does the content have grammar errors, stock photos, and generic text?
• Is the deal too good to be true?
• Are they pressuring you with fake urgency ("Only 2 left!" "Sale ends in 5 minutes!")?
• Do they accept standard payment methods (credit card, PayPal) or only wire transfer/crypto?
• Can you find the company on social media with a real following and history?

If multiple items raise concerns, err on the side of caution and don't proceed.