echowarp We're all about innovation

Pidgin: Link warning

Pidgin should check links sent by others to warn users of phoney or misleading links.

If something reads like it’s a URL, it Pidgin should check if the target matches it.

Pidgin should check for phony links

Users should be warned because it is easy to trick users into thinking that a link goes to somewhere they want to go, but then takes them to another place of their choosing.

For example, this link looks like something I might send in an instant message, but notice that the link does not go where you think: http://echowarp.neomenlo.org/

This kind of deception is a problem because the actual target of the link can go anywhere the sender wants, including places that could attempt to install malware, trick users into giving passwords, or just contain a lot of unwanted advertisements.

Show your support, and help spur the development of this Pidgin feature on Ubuntu Brainstorm:

Or add your thoughts on the Pidgin Ticket

Until this feature is implemented, you can check links yourself by hovering over them.

Author: Evan Boldt