Link blocking is a security measure to prevent malicious material from infecting a computer through web pages. Programs can work within a specific browser or cover the entire computer, and can target certain types of links or use a central database. However, some groups criticize these programs for harming internet advertising and falsely flagging safe sites.
A link block is a method of preventing some or all Internet links from working under a specific circumstance. This is mainly used as a security measure, as some web pages contain malicious material. A link block can work within a certain program or it can cover any activity on a computer. Some blocks focus on ads, while others use a central database of good and bad locations. While link blockers appear to be totally helpful, some groups have spoken out against the programs and practices as being harmful to the internet as a whole.
Web pages are similar to a visual computer program. They contain scripts and code that most users never see. Some of these scripts may contain malicious material that is meant to infect a computer with any type of malware. To an average web user, these pages don’t seem malicious, as the problematic parts are hidden within the page’s coding.
To protect users, some programs use a login lock. This program searches through the encoding of the page as it loads for malicious material, links to malware, or redirects to malicious websites. If it finds something it doesn’t like, it warns the user before the page runs. This will give the user time to move away from the web page to a safer area.
There are a few types of link blocking programs available. Some programs only work within another program. This is common for browser add-ons that block ads and malicious material. In this case, the program would work in one browser, but in another it would be totally unprotected.
Other blocking programs affect the entire computer. These types of locks are often part of a security suite that loads with a computer and remains active at all times. These programs typically catch less malicious links, but they are able to do so in areas that other programs are unable to protect.
The other difference in link blocking programs is in how they find their targets. Some programs target certain types of links. For example, the ad blockers mentioned above remove all ads to remove any potentially harmful code.
Other link blocking programs work using a central database. These databases scour the Internet for malicious code and malware. The database maintains a list of sites and informs programs to warn users if they try to travel to a potentially harmful location.
These programs have had a certain amount of controversy surrounding them. Internet advertisers complain that their profits are being cut. The ads they use, both good and bad, are removed from the web page before the user sees them. Also, database programs can read some types of harmless code as harmful and warn people to avoid safe sites. This practice has caused some site owners a large amount of money.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
