Top Security Software
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Miniature links can be misleading
Posted by Caitlin
We've mentioned the danger posed by the miniature URLs that are often used in place of full length links. Whenever a complete URL is too long or cumbersome, many users turn to URL shortening services like TinyURL. Unfortunately, a condensed URL that appears harmless can easily lead to a malware download or phishing site, rather than the destination you were expecting. What appears to be a link to a friend's home video may actually be pointing you toward the Koobface virus. Hackers can target a single URL shortening service and intentionally misroute millions of users.
To find out where those mini URLs lead before you click on them, paste them into a URL lengthening service (naturally!) like TinyURL Decoder or Untiny. Untiny also offers browser add-ons that make it easy to see the full URL automatically. And, of course, protect yourself from spam and malware with Internet security software.
4 Responses to “Miniature links can be misleading”
Leave a Reply
Popular Services Reviewed:
Credit Monitoring Services |
Find Us On:
Copyright© 2006 - 2013 NextAdvisor.com - All rights reserved.
Disclosure: NextAdvisor.com is a consumer information site that offers free, independent reviews and ratings of online services. We receive advertising revenue from most of the services we review. Our editors thoroughly research and whenever possible test each service we review and offer their honest opinions about each one. We are independently owned and operated and all opinions expressed on this site are our own.
July 16th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
[...] are necessary to keep tweets within the 140 character limit help mask these scams. As explained here on NextAdvisor: Whenever a complete URL is too long or cumbersome, many users turn to URL shortening services like [...]
July 17th, 2009 at 4:32 am
[...] But it isn't just obvious Twitter porn that you need to watch out for. It's also seemingly legitimate links posted by those you follow. Criminals have figured out that Twitter is a social network that brings people together. Strangers follow you, and you often reciprocate, following them back and bringing them into your network. As with email phishing scams, criminals post tweets highlighting current events, with links that lead to malicious sites or direct malware downloads. Numerous news outlets have reported on malicious tweets purporting to point to news about Michael Jackson, Obama, Farrah Fawcett, Iraq and even the Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court confirmation hearings. The shortened URLs that are necessary to keep tweets within the 140 character limit help mask these scams. As explained NextAdvisor: [...]
September 24th, 2009 at 6:37 am
[...] Shortened URLs that are necessary to keep tweets within the 140 character limit help mask these scams. As explained by NextAdvisor: [...]
September 24th, 2009 at 11:12 am
[...] Shortened URLs that are necessary to keep tweets within the 140 character limit help mask these scams. As explained by NextAdvisor: [...]