The Hidden Dangers of Clicking on Links: Why Every Click Needs Protection

Not All Clicks Are Created Equal

Clicking a hyperlink is one of the most common user actions online, but not all clicks have the same implications. A link in an email from a trusted vendor is different from a shortened URL in a social post, and both are different from a CAPTCHA prompt on an unfamiliar site. Security teams must acknowledge that the context of a click determines its risk level.

Attackers know this too. That’s why they exploit everyday interactions—embedding malicious payloads in links where users least expect them. From drive-by downloads to credential harvesting, a single click can bypass perimeter defenses and give adversaries a foothold inside your network.

In other words: A click isn’t just a click—it’s a potential attack vector.

Different Types of Clicks

In our recent webinar, What’s Behind a Click?, we walked through some of the different types of clicks:

Harmless clicks*

• Entertainment, like videos on trusted streaming sites
• Reacting to or commenting on your friends’ social media posts
• Verifiable links sent from trusted source

*Disclaimer that these types of links are typically harmless, but there are always exceptions.

Routine clicks

• Zoom link in a calendar invite from your boss
• Email with expected file attached from trusted source
• Button to request time off in your HR platform
• Google doc sent in Slack from your coworker

High-Risk Clicks

• “Urgent” email with attachment
• Shortened link in spam text
• Button to pay invoice in an email you weren’t expecting
• Login page on a site with misspelled domain

During that webinar, we popped up this link for attendees to click on—and 25% of them did. This goes to show that even if something looks safe and it is coming from a trusted party, you never actually know what you’re clicking on until after you click. In this case, it was just a rickroll. But would you have been able to tell if it was something less innocent?

We're Only Human (and the weakest link in cybersecurity)

Even highly trained employees will eventually click on something they shouldn’t. Security leaders recognize this inevitability but often overestimate the effectiveness of awareness training alone. While phishing training reduces risk, it cannot eliminate it.

Criminals exploit human behavior because they know that humans are fallible, and they know we are wired to click. We respond quickly, we trust our routines, we skim and cut corners in order to save time and increase our productivity. 

Attackers exploit these instincts. For example:

• Urgent messages or spoofed senders (like HR or the CEO) trigger compliance before scrutiny
• Familiar branding creates trust in fraudulent websites
• Curiosity drives clicks on links or attachments
• Spam emails trigger clicks on “unsubscribe”

The median amount of time for someone to click a link after opening a malicious email is only 21 seconds, and the median time to enter their information after clicking is only 28 seconds. Our “autopilot” behaviors (i.e. fast clicks and skimming emails) work in cybercriminals’ favor—they can successfully phish users in under 60 seconds.

This reality means organizations must move beyond user education and implement technical safeguards that reduce reliance on perfect human judgment.

Unique Threats Hiding Behind Links

Attackers are constantly innovating on how they deliver malicious links. Some of the most notable and effective strategies include:

• Malicious “Unsubscribe” Links
  Spam messages often include unsubscribe options. While legitimate marketers honor these requests, malicious actors use them to verify active email accounts, escalate phishing campaigns, or redirect users to infected sites. Clicking “unsubscribe” can confirm to attackers that their campaign is working or make you a future target for something more sophisticated.
  
  
• Highly Targeted Spear Phishing Emails
  Business email compromise (BEC) attacks rely on carefully crafted messages that impersonate executives, vendors, or trusted partners. These emails contain links that bypass suspicion by mimicking normal workflows (invoice approvals, document shares, password resets). One click on a spear phishing link can result in credential theft or unauthorized access. Read this case study about how DNSFilter customer, IR Pros, thwarted a malicious email threat by utilizing DNS filtering.
  
  
• Fake CAPTCHAs
  CAPTCHAs are typically associated with security and legitimacy. Threat actors leverage this trust by embedding malicious redirects or downloads into convincing CAPTCHA challenges. When users “prove they’re human,” they are unknowingly giving attackers an entry point. In one particularly interesting instance, DNSFilter customer, FixFinder, experienced a fileless malware attack via fake CAPTCHA. Read the case study to learn what to look out for and how DNSFilter blocked the threat.
  
  
• DGAs (Domain Generation Algorithms)
  Malware often uses DGAs to create large numbers of random, disposable domains, making it nearly impossible for traditional blocklists to keep up. A user clicking on a malicious link may not be going to a static phishing site but to a rapidly shifting domain ecosystem controlled by attackers. One of the best defenses for these kinds of attacks is AI-powered protective DNS that can keep up with analyzing the patterns associated with these domains.
  
  
• Typosquatting
  Slightly misspelled domains (e.g., paypa1.com instead of paypal.com) often host phishing kits or malware. These domains are designed to catch users who mistype URLs or trust links that look close enough. Even savvy users can be fooled when attackers employ SSL certificates and polished branding.

Each of these threats demonstrates a sobering fact: Attackers don’t need to outsmart security tools—they only need to convince a human to click.

How to Protect Every Click with DNS Filtering

Since eliminating clicks isn’t an option, the focus must shift to controlling what happens after the click. That’s where layered security with DNS filtering provides measurable risk reduction.

Firewalls and endpoint protection are great tools to invest in, much like an intruder alarm system in your home. But even with intruder alarms, it’s still important to lock your front door.

DNS filtering solutions intercept outbound requests before a connection is established. This prevents endpoints from reaching malicious destinations, even when a user clicks a dangerous link.

The best DNS-layer security tools offer:

• Proactive Blocking of Malicious Domains
  DNSFilter leverages threat intelligence and AI-driven analysis to block access to known and emerging threats, including phishing sites, malware, and domains generated by DGAs.
  
  
• Protection Against Brand Abuse and Typosquatting
  By analyzing domains for lookalike characteristics and malicious intent, DNS filtering stops users from landing on fraudulent websites—even if they click a link that looks legitimate.
  
  
• Coverage Beyond the Corporate Network
  With hybrid work now the norm, DNS-layer security travels with user devices with roaming clients wherever they connect—ensuring protection at home, in the office, or on public Wi-Fi.
  
  
• Faster Threat Detection and Response
  Because DNS is a foundational layer of internet traffic, filtering offers visibility into suspicious activity and helps security teams detect threats earlier in the kill chain.

Clicks will always happen. The difference between a harmless click and a catastrophic one is whether that click is protected. 

With DNSFilter, organizations gain assurance that every click—no matter how careless or calculated—passes through a layer of defense designed to stop threats before they cause harm. Try 14 days of DNSFilter free.