Until recently, the only way to open a link in Chrome’s mobile browser was to leave the current page or direct the link to a separate tab. No scenario is ideal, especially if you just want to to briefly navigate to a link before opening it. Fortunately, Chrome now finally allows you to view hyperlinks on Android.
Google recently added the option of viewing the page through a server-side update. It is enabled by default for all devices, so you don’t have to go through its settings or install any other patches to make it work, but some users may not be aware that it is possible to view links, as Google has added the functionality so suddenly.
To view a link in the Chrome Android app:
- Press and hold a hyperlink to open a pop-up menu
- Select “Watch page.”
- A smaller tab will open over the current page. You can scroll through the view and see your content as normal, without leaving the page you are already on.
- If you want to load a page viewed on its own tab, touch the arrow icon in the upper right corner. tighten “X” icon to close a viewing window.
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Link visualization is a small addition to Chrome, but useful that serves several purposes, allowing you to identify pranks or skim an article to see if it’s what you’re looking for.
That said, don’t view the pages unless you are sure it is a secure site. Viewing a link loads all of the content on a page – including all images, videos and codes that the page uses. This includes any NSFW content that you may be avoiding, but there are bigger threats than adult sites to be concerned about.
Phishing and malware scams often use fake URLs to steal personal information or insert malicious software into your devices, and viewing these pages can be as dangerous as opening them directly. The best option it is simply not to touch suspicious links. However, you can preview a link in Chrome without opening or viewing the page: Just long press on the link to open the pop-up menu. The link URL is displayed at the top of the menu. If you don’t recognize the URL, or if it is obviously fake, do not click on it.
[9to5Google]