What Are HTTP Redirects and understanding HTTP Redirects and Their Risks

1. What Is an HTTP Redirect?

An HTTP Redirect is a way for a web server to send a user from one URL to another. When you type a web address and your browser's address bar changes to a different one, you've experienced a redirect. There are several types, but the two common types are

• 301 (Permanent Redirect): This tells search engines that a page has moved permanently. This is the correct choice for most situations, as it instructs Google to pass all the SEO value ("link juice") from the old URL to the new one.
• 302 (Temporary Redirect): This tells search engines the move is only temporary. If you use this for a permanent move, Google may not transfer the full SEO value, potentially hurting your rankings. Our tool flags the use of temporary redirects so you can ensure you're using the correct type.

2. Why Is It Important?

Redirects are a fundamental part of how the web works. Legitimate uses include: * Redirecting from an old page to a new one (e.g., /about-us to /about). * Sending users from the insecure http:// version of a site to the secure https:// version. * Using URL shorteners (like bit.ly) to create short, memorable links.

For our analysis tool, tracing these redirects is important because they can also be used for malicious purposes or for tracking user activity across different sites.

3. How Are People Affected By Malicious Redirects?

While most redirects are harmless, they can be abused: * Phishing: A link might look legitimate but redirect through several hidden URLs before landing on a convincing fake login page. * Malware Distribution: A user might be redirected to a site that attempts to automatically download a malicious file. * Affiliate Fraud: Some links redirect through affiliate networks to set tracking cookies on a user's computer without their knowledge. Tracing the redirect chain exposes these hidden hops, allowing a user to see the true path a link will take before they click it.