Proofpoint URL Defense – URL Decoder
It’s not uncommon for organizations to receive emails that contain shady links. But there’s a way you can safely click on any URL with Spambrella and our URL decoder. Our URL Defense feature is powered by Targeted Attack Protection (TAP) from Proofpoint, which is automatically activated to sandbox email links and detect URLs and malware that may be hazardous to your systems or people.
URL Defense taps into Proofpoint’s threat intelligence data to intercept URLs known to be dangerous. If you receive an email with a link to a shady website that is not covered by Proofpoint’s algorithms, sandboxing it will ensure your safe browsing experience. This is a solution you need to augment your defenses against shifting email threat patterns and prevent untold damage that suspicious URLs and attachments may inflict.
How does URL Defense work?
URL Defense is activated automatically and does not require manual interventions to start analyzing your incoming emails and the URLs they contain. This feature rewrites the links it identifies in the message and leverages real-time sandboxing technology when you click on them.
The URL rewriting process is instant due to the advanced capabilities of Targeted Attack Protection. You will not have to wait until the feature analyzes and encodes the link before being able to use it for your business purposes. After you click on the URL, our security filters will inspect the web page you are taken to and prevent access if any threat is pinpointed to protect your devices and data. If no danger is spotted, you can go to that web page and browse it without restrictions.
Does it affect the content of emails?
URL Defense does not alter the displayed content of your emails. It only encodes URLs and scans attachments to red-flag what may cause harm to your organization. You can easily identify rewritten links, as they will begin with https://urldefense.proofpoint.com.
Spambrella’s URL Defense comes with a URL Decoder. This extra feature allows you to reverse the automated link rewriting process to receive the original URL. The URL Defense Decoder can be beneficial if you know the incoming link is safe, yet our system has blocked it.
IMPORTANT: If a web page is red-flagged as hazardous by TAP, reaching it may compromise your device, network, or data. Stay aware of the risks of decoding rewritten URLs and going to malicious websites.
How can you use Proofpoint URL Decoder?
After URL Defense takes action on targeted protection via URL rewriting, you can decode any link in just three steps:
- Copy the encoded link that starts with https://urldefense.proofpoint.com.
- Paste it into our decoding form.
- Hit “Decode” to obtain the original link.
TAP checks the URLs you receive in emails against its ever-expanding database of dangerous web pages. However, it may sometimes limit access to websites that have been improperly identified as suspicious. In this case, you can take advantage of our URL Decoder or contact support with pertinent information to get the desired links cleared.
