6 Chrome Extensions That Check The Validity & Safety Of Webpage Links With A Click

It is URLs or links as we like to call them that make the web go around. Links form the strands of the web (quite literally).But more often than not, you cannot see beyond them. Links could be broken; links could point to the wrong page; even worse, links could be an open door to phishing scams or malware downloads. That’s why it helps to keep at least one link checker in your browser.

I have found that link checkers also are great assistants when it comes to checking a bunch of download links from file sharing websites like Rapidshare. It’s a really painful experience to find a broken link after you have downloaded the major part of a file with the working ones above it.
Just so you know, Chrome Web Store has these (few) link checkers to help you out in different ways.

Link Checker

A really simple link checker extension that works quietly with color codes. The Chrome extension with the broken image necklace icon (in case you are wondering about the icon) works by color coding the links. A small percentage counter shows the stage of completion. Errors are shown in red, Successful returns are shown by green, timed out links are shown by blue, and failed links dumped with a red highlight. It doesn’t return perfect results always, but do recheck the links displayed in red.

Check My Links

This link verifying Chrome extension also works on the principle of color codes. It highlights broken links in red with the error code displayed next to it. Status of links is displayed as shown in the screenshot. Mailto and JavaScript links are ignored and the number of links passed or failed is published in the Link Check Report with colored tags. Sometimes the link checker does time out.

WGTools Link Checker

This link checking extension checks the validity of links from different file sharing websites like Rapidshare and displays a summary report. It works from the toolbar as well as from the right-click context menu. It basically is like a shortcut that takes you to the WGTools link checking page.

RapidShare Link Validator

The Rapidshare Validator acts automatically when you land on a page that has links from the file sharing website. The icon on the address bar changes color when it detects a page with Rapidshare links. Valid links get the green icon. Invalid links are stroked out and the icon is shown in red.

Nope

Try out this Chrome extension on the test page and you will get the utility. This extension automatically detects a misleading link which attempts to take you to a different domain than the one intended by the link text. The warning could help you protect your browser from phishing attacks and other malicious websites.

SafeLinks FREE

Just like the earlier extension, SafeLinks FREE also tries to protect you from unsafe links. It works on the current webpage or any link you explicitly select. Use SafeLinks with a right-click on the current page or on a selected link. The extension uses the feedback from web safety rating websites like McAfee, Norton, and Trend Micro to return safe or unsafe results. The only little grouse I found with this extension was that the feedback from the three above mentioned services was slow on some webpages.
Checking links for malicious intent is a much more vital use of link checkers. But I was also surprised by the relative lack of extensions available for the purpose. Did I miss any? What are your thoughts on link checkers? Do you use one or any other URL tools in your Chrome browser?