# What is a Sneaky Link?
A sneaky link is a type of link that is intentionally difficult to detect or spot. It may be placed in copy, banner ads or images, usually to direct users to a certain website – or sometimes, to malicious content. They are, essentially, designed to mislead the user as to where they’re being taken, and what they’re clicking.

The phrase ‘sneaky link’ isn’t an official term, and doesn’t have a formal definition. Generally speaking, it is any type of link which doesn’t appear to be a regular link. In other words, it is camouflaged and presented as a seemingly innocuous or unrelated element to the user.

# Examples of Sneaky Links
Perhaps the most common example of a sneaky link is an embedded link in copy. For example, a link may be placed within a sentence or phrase with no special formatting or emphasis, and it is easy for the reader to miss it completely. Often, the text is designed to look as normal as possible, appearing just like regular words, without any indication of a link.

Links can also be hidden within images, making them difficult to spot. Ad banners, too, are popular places to embed sneaky links. This is a common tactic used in email marketing, whereby subscribers click on a seemingly innocuous banner, but are instead taken to a different website or page.

# Why are Sneaky Links Used?
Sneaky links are widely used for a variety of purposes. Most commonly, they are used for malicious intent and to misdirect users to malicious websites. Email spoofing, fraudulent activities and phishing are some of the main scam tactics used by cybercriminals, and sneaky links can help them with their malicious activities.

However, it isn’t always for malicious means. In some cases, marketers may use sneaky links in order to measure the return on investment (ROI) of various campaigns. In other cases, they’re used to engage readers or subscribers who may have otherwise skipped over or ignored a link or banner.