Suggestion: make external links bright red

[Rizzrack]

I see your reasoning but tbh making all external links red is a bit too much.

Maybe make only "spoofed" links red.

Code:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=xxx   -  green
https://any-other-website.tld  -  normal

[url=https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=xxx]click here[/url]   -  green

[url=https://any-other-website.tld]click here[/url]   -  red / normal (debatable)
[url=https://any-other-website.tld]https://not-the-same-website.tld[/url]   -  red

[Jet Cash]

I support some action to make external links clearer.

Not just for protection against scams, but because it makes it easier for readers to decide whether they want to follow a link posted by a trusted member.

[AB de Royse777]

~snip~
Credit added to the OP

I like the proposal but imagine when there are several external links or even one, but I do not like it to be formatted red as it may not look nice format to others.

Having a warning page with a Call to action button would be nice I think. The message could be like "you are leaving the forum or opening an external site .......... Do you want to view the site?"

I looked for an example image and found this online:


I do not own the image

I've suggested before that all external links take you to a landing page first as a security measure with a warning to double check the url or something before you leave the site. That would give a buffer or a barrier against phishing links etc.

Feeling you stole the idea before me :-D
I should have give more time to read all the comments carefully.

[bL4nkcode]

Many people would be annoyed if they can't visit the link directly or read the same message on landing page many times.

It will only just take their 3 seconds time to do that. Though as suggested above it would be better if there's an option to disable this feature, but it should be enabled as the default option on the profile's settings.

[PrimeNumber7]

[Edit] Found it. Same like this

I think something like this would be a good compromise if theymos doesn't like the negative connotation associated with red links as OgNasty says.

An intermediary page would be only a minor inconvenience, and this could even be turned off via individualized settings (that is by default, on), and certain long-standing bitcoin/crypto-related domains could be white-listed that would not initially direct to an intermediary page.

The purpose of changing a link's color is to prevent forum members from being tricked into visiting phishing sites. I think the above should generally prevent members from being tricked into visiting most phishing sites.

[icopress]

Warning: Malicious links + Color Generator ^{[Be carefull]}

At first glance, these messages look normal, and I almost sent a report to the moderator with the hashtag "Offtopic" and "Necroposting" but... as it turned out, these are well-disguised malicious links. I understand that this sounds like "prison" but I cannot disagree with tranthidung's words "I'd like to suggest to automatically put all url links from Brandnew or newbie members into code brackets".