Privacy-First Link Safety Tools: What Should Stay in Your Browser?
How local processing protects sensitive content when inspecting email text, headers, QR images, and quick reports.
Not every input needs a server
Pasted email text, raw headers, and QR images can contain private context. A privacy-first tool should process that locally where possible.
Only selected URLs need to be sent to a scanner, and even then the tool should clearly say what is being sent.
Local tools still need limits
Local parsing can miss things. Browser support differs. A QR extractor may not be available in every browser. Header parsing is context, not proof.
Privacy-first means less unnecessary data movement, not a promise of perfect detection.
When server checks are reasonable
A URL scanner needs to inspect a submitted URL. An email authentication checker needs DNS lookups for a domain. Those are narrower inputs than uploading an entire email body or file.
How CheckLink helps
CheckLink's Email Link Inspector, Email Header Inspector, QR Link Checker, BEC Request Inspector, and Quick Report keep sensitive text or images in the browser where possible. Selected URLs and DNS domains are sent only when a user chooses to check them.
Checklist
FAQ
Does local processing mean nothing leaves the browser?
Only for the content the tool says is local. If you choose to scan a URL, that URL is sent to the scanner.
Is local parsing a guarantee?
No. It protects privacy but does not guarantee that every risk is detected.
Related guides
Related glossary terms
Use CheckLink before the next click
CheckLink provides risk signals and review paths. It does not guarantee that a website is risk-free.