What does MALICIOUS_URL mean on X?

Post label in X’s Under the Hood report · Hidden from non-followers

`MALICIOUS_URL`

Post labelHidden from non-followers

The post links to a site X thinks may be harmful, so only your followers see it in their feeds.

What X’s report says

What it means

Post detected by automated systems as likely to contain a link to a malicious site.

Effect on visibility

Post hidden from recommendations to non-followers.

What X’s code adds

Applied together with DO_NOT_AMPLIFY when a link resolves to a site rated unsafe, and removed again if that rating is lifted.
A repost of your post gets the label on the original.
Dropped from For You for non-followers and from the video feed.

Read from X’s open-source code. X’s live settings can differ.

What to do

Check the link and any redirect or shortener in front of it. A hacked site or a spammy shortener can trigger this. Link straight to the real page, and remove links you don’t trust.

X’s wording is copied from underTheHoodLabels.strato in X’s open-source code. Last checked against X’s code on October 17, 2026.

How to check if you have this label

Open X’s Under the Hood report while logged in. There is no menu link, so use the direct link. It lists every label on your posts and account last month, with a count. How to read it: X Under the Hood report explained.

Got another label in your report? Look it up here.

Common questions

What does MALICIOUS_URL mean on X?: The post links to a site X thinks may be harmful, so only your followers see it in their feeds. X’s own description: “Post detected by automated systems as likely to contain a link to a malicious site.” Effect: “Post hidden from recommendations to non-followers.”
How do I fix MALICIOUS_URL?: Check the link and any redirect or shortener in front of it. A hacked site or a spammy shortener can trigger this. Link straight to the real page, and remove links you don’t trust.
How do I know if I have MALICIOUS_URL?: Open X’s Under the Hood report at x.com/i/jf/under_the_hood while logged in. It lists every label on your posts and account last month. You need an account at least one year old with 10 or more posts in the prior month.