Link Protection

Link Protection is a security feature exclusive to Onoff Premium accounts. It automatically and in real time analyzes Internet links (URLs) contained in your incoming SMS messages to protect you against phishing and malicious websites.

The goal is simple: to alert you of threats and prevent you from accidentally opening a dangerous link, while still allowing you to read the message content if you wish.

How does the app respond to a dangerous link?
When a malicious link is detected in an SMS, our system acts in two steps to ensure your safety.

Step 1: Initial Blocking
To prevent any accidental clicks, the message does not appear directly in your conversation. The system replaces it with a red warning card.
 

• What you see: The message "This person sent you a message containing a malicious link. For your safety, this message has been blocked."
   

• Possible action: A "View Message" button is available if you want to learn more.
  
   

Step 2: Secure Text Display
If you need to understand the context of the message (to identify the sender or the subject), you can click "View Message".
 

• The original text: It is displayed under a new alert banner advising you not to share the content.

• Absolute security (Link disabled): Even though the text is visible, the malicious URL is completely neutralized. It appears in red and crossed out. It is technically impossible to click on it or open it from the app.

  
  

Good to know (Suspicious vs. malicious links): If our system considers a link merely suspicious (but not formally malicious), a warning will appear, but you will still have the choice to open it assuming the risks. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why can I read the message text but not click on the link?
For your safety, our system has identified the link in this SMS as a confirmed threat. We display the text to give you the context of the message, but we permanently disable the link to prevent you from accidentally visiting a fraudulent site.

Can I disable this protection feature?
No. Link Protection is a security layer automatically integrated into all Premium accounts. It cannot be manually disabled in order to ensure compliance with our security standards.

Why did one of my friends receive the same fraudulent SMS without a warning?
This real-time protection is strictly reserved for our Premium users. Standard (free) users do not benefit from this active shield and therefore receive malicious links directly, without a warning card.