How to use Rakshak
A short walkthrough of every major feature, in the order most people need them. One quick link check on the homepage is free with no account. Everything else, from the full Link Checker to reporting and tracking a case, asks you to sign in first, so your information stays attached to you and nobody else.
1. Check a link before you open it
The quick check on the homepage is free and needs no account. Signing in gets you the full Link Checker with saved history.
Copy the link you want to check, from a message, email, or social media post.
Paste it into the free checker on the homepage for an instant result, or sign in and go to Protect, then Link Checker, for the full version.
Rakshak looks at the domain, the connection type, and known threat lists.
Read the risk result: Safe, Suspicious, Dangerous, or Unknown, along with the reasons behind it.
If it looks risky, use View Safely instead of opening it directly, or simply do not open it.
2. Scan a QR code safely
QR codes hide their destination until you scan them, which makes them a common trick for payment scams.
Sign in, then go to Protect, then QR Scanner, and allow camera access if asked.
Point your camera at the QR code, or choose Enter manually if you already have the text.
If the code is a web link, it opens directly into the Link Checker for you.
If the code is a UPI payment request, Rakshak shows the merchant, amount, and UPI ID so you can check it before paying in your own banking app.
3. Create your account
An account lets Rakshak remember your profile, evidence, and cases between visits, and it is required for everything beyond the one free homepage check.
Go to Create account and enter your name, email, and a password.
Sign in any time from the Sign in page using the same email and password.
Your link check history, evidence, and case tracking are only available once you are signed in.
Use Sign out from the menu whenever you are on a shared or public computer.
4. Connect with DigiLocker
DigiLocker can speed up identity verification when you file a report. In this demonstration build, the connection itself is simulated, no real government system is contacted.
Sign in, then go to Profile, then Identity Documents.
Look for the DigiLocker row, marked Not connected.
In a production deployment this would securely pull verified documents such as Aadhaar or PAN directly from DigiLocker.
Until then, you can still add documents manually, they are labeled user-provided until verified.
5. Save evidence before it disappears
Screenshots and messages can be deleted or edited by the other side. Save a copy as soon as you notice something wrong.
Go to Evidence and choose Add evidence.
Pick a type: photo, document, text note, or a URL.
Choose a category, such as Financial, Social Media, or Messages, so it is easy to find later.
Rakshak calculates a SHA-256 hash of the file automatically, so you always have proof it was not altered afterward.
6. Report an incident
The report form changes based on what happened to you, from financial fraud and phishing to cyberbullying, so you only answer relevant questions.
Not sure which category fits? Go to Report, then Just tell Rakshak what happened, and describe it in your own words, Rakshak suggests the category and pre-fills what it can find for you to review.
Otherwise, go to Report and choose the category that matches what happened yourself.
Fill in the category-specific fields. If something does not apply or you do not know it, use the Not available option instead of guessing.
Add a timeline of events and attach any evidence you already saved.
Write a description of at least 200 characters, since that is a common requirement on real cybercrime reporting portals too.
Review everything on the summary screen, then submit to create a tracked case with a reference number.
7. File a case urgently
If you are in the middle of an active financial fraud, minutes matter more than a perfectly filled form.
Call the national cyber helpline 1930 immediately for financial fraud, acting within the first few hours meaningfully improves the chance a bank can freeze or reverse a transaction.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, including a serious threat or cyberbullying situation, contact local police on 112 first.
Only after calling, come back to Rakshak and use Report to create a detailed, trackable case for your own records.
Save every related screenshot, message, and transaction receipt to the Evidence Vault as soon as you can, before it can be deleted.
8. Track your case
After you submit, Rakshak shows you a plain-language timeline instead of a confusing status code.
Go to Cases to see every report you have submitted, active or completed.
Open a case to see its full status timeline, from submitted through to resolved.
Tap the info icon next to any status to read what that status actually means.
Use Ask Rakshak about this case for a plain-language explanation using only the details already in your case.
9. Ask Rakshak
Ask Rakshak is a rule-based assistant. It only explains information that already exists in the app, it does not invent facts or guarantee outcomes.
Open Ask Rakshak from the floating chat button on any page, or from a specific case.
Use one of the suggested questions, or type your own, such as What evidence should I keep.
Treat answers as general guidance, not legal or police advice.
10. Get Rakshak on your phone
The same protections extend to a dedicated Android app, so you are covered outside the browser too.
The Rakshak mobile app adds on-device link protection that can work as a link gateway for messages and other apps, not just the browser.
Installing it is one of the simplest ways to secure yourself day to day, checks can happen automatically instead of you needing to remember to paste a link in first.
The mobile app shares the same account, so your cases, evidence, and history stay in sync with what you see here on the web.