Creepy Link Myths: What They Can and Cannot Do
Pop culture has convinced people that clicking a link allows a hacker to drain their bank account. Let's look at the reality.
Myth 1: "Clicking a link installs a virus instantly."
Fact: Modern browsers (Chrome, Edge, Safari) are sandboxed. Just visiting a webpage (or being redirected by a creepy link) cannot install software unless the user explicitly downloads and runs a file.
A creepy link is just a redirect. It's a traffic sign, not a payload.
Myth 2: "They can see through my camera."
Fact: Absolutely false. Accessing a camera or microphone requires explicit browser permission (that popup that says "Allow website to use your camera?"). A link cannot bypass this.
Myth 3: "They know my exact home address."
Fact: Partially false. Tracking links can see an IP address. An IP address usually resolves to a city or a general neighborhood (ISP hub), but rarely to a specific house number.
Furthermore, responsible services (like ours) anonymize this data to prevent misuse.
Myth 4: "They can read my other browser tabs."
Fact: False. Browsers enforce strict "Same-Origin Policy." Website A cannot see what you are doing on Website B. A creepy link only knows that you visited it.
What They CAN Do
So if they can't hack you, what can they do?
- Know the exact time you clicked.
- Know your device type (iPhone vs Android).
- Know your approximate location (City/Country).
That's it. It's digital attendance, not digital surveillance.