Comments on: short url dangers http://alex-p.com/blog/2010/02/short-url-dangers/ Thoughts about Technology, Sports, and anything else Wed, 01 Jun 2011 02:18:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Alex Popoutsis :: Blog http://alex-p.com/blog/2010/02/short-url-dangers/comment-page-1/#comment-5786 Alex Popoutsis :: Blog Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:56:56 +0000 http://alex-p.com/blog/?p=12#comment-5786 [...] in February, I posted about the hidden dangers behind shortened URLs. In the comments, David Needham mentioned the possibility of self-hosted URL shorteners to help [...] [...] in February, I posted about the hidden dangers behind shortened URLs. In the comments, David Needham mentioned the possibility of self-hosted URL shorteners to help [...]

]]> By: Alex Popoutsis http://alex-p.com/blog/2010/02/short-url-dangers/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Alex Popoutsis Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:32:19 +0000 http://alex-p.com/blog/?p=12#comment-14 Very nice, thanks for the link. It looks like hosting your own URL shortener is not only good for trust purposes, but for SEO as well. Very nice, thanks for the link.

It looks like hosting your own URL shortener is not only good for trust purposes, but for SEO as well.

]]> By: David Needham http://alex-p.com/blog/2010/02/short-url-dangers/comment-page-1/#comment-13 David Needham Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:27:10 +0000 http://alex-p.com/blog/?p=12#comment-13 Here's where I found it. I liked his suggestion for adding #keyword at the end of the url to give the reader an idea what it is... if you can afford the letters. http://esev.com/blog/review/host-your-own-url-shortener-10-php-apps-reviewed/ Here’s where I found it. I liked his suggestion for adding #keyword at the end of the url to give the reader an idea what it is… if you can afford the letters.

http://esev.com/blog/review/host-your-own-url-shortener-10-php-apps-reviewed/

]]> By: Alex Popoutsis http://alex-p.com/blog/2010/02/short-url-dangers/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Alex Popoutsis Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:06:19 +0000 http://alex-p.com/blog/?p=12#comment-12 Short URLs on your own domain is a great idea... I might look into that myself. Short URLs on your own domain is a great idea… I might look into that myself.

]]> By: David Needham http://alex-p.com/blog/2010/02/short-url-dangers/comment-page-1/#comment-9 David Needham Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:12:35 +0000 http://alex-p.com/blog/?p=12#comment-9 Yeah, that seems to be the best practice, though I'd even shy away from using a link that looks similar to another website but not the same URL. Kinda like what I said above, typos or URLs that look familiar but are slightly different are red flags that it's not legit. If techcrunch is shortening a link, make it techcrunch.com/1234. It's still short, sweet and clearly still from techcrunch.com. I read an article on how to do this recently. Might look into it for http://enjoycreativity.com someday, though it's obviously a better plan with people who have shorter root URLs already. Yeah, that seems to be the best practice, though I’d even shy away from using a link that looks similar to another website but not the same URL. Kinda like what I said above, typos or URLs that look familiar but are slightly different are red flags that it’s not legit.

If techcrunch is shortening a link, make it techcrunch.com/1234. It’s still short, sweet and clearly still from techcrunch.com. I read an article on how to do this recently. Might look into it for http://enjoycreativity.com someday, though it’s obviously a better plan with people who have shorter root URLs already.

]]> By: Alex Popoutsis http://alex-p.com/blog/2010/02/short-url-dangers/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Alex Popoutsis Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:32:07 +0000 http://alex-p.com/blog/?p=12#comment-5 I have noticed a few sites using custom short URL's - TechCrunch (tcrn.ch) and the Green Bay Packers (pckrs.com), for example. That's one possible solution. I have noticed a few sites using custom short URL’s – TechCrunch (tcrn.ch) and the Green Bay Packers (pckrs.com), for example. That’s one possible solution.

]]> By: Alex Popoutsis http://alex-p.com/blog/2010/02/short-url-dangers/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Alex Popoutsis Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:06:11 +0000 http://alex-p.com/blog/?p=12#comment-3 Good points. There's definitely a trade-off; shortened URL's make life easier for the content creators but somewhat less convenient for the content consumers. And yeah, I don't know that there's a better way to do it unless they move to institute some kind of standard - maybe work with the web browsers to create a safer and more secure way to use short URL's. Good points. There’s definitely a trade-off; shortened URL’s make life easier for the content creators but somewhat less convenient for the content consumers.

And yeah, I don’t know that there’s a better way to do it unless they move to institute some kind of standard – maybe work with the web browsers to create a safer and more secure way to use short URL’s.

]]> By: David Needham http://alex-p.com/blog/2010/02/short-url-dangers/comment-page-1/#comment-2 David Needham Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:01:30 +0000 http://alex-p.com/blog/?p=12#comment-2 I agree completely. Even though I don't work in IT directly anymore, I can still recognize this as a serious danger to casual users. And honestly I'm not sure that there is a good solution to this. Yes, there are URL expanders and verifiers (like tinyurl.com has). But who uses those? Maybe a casual user who only comes across one every once and awhile, or one who has one that looks suspicious... but as someone who sees a shortened URL multiple times a day it's just not practical. The best "solution" is to become educated about the warning signs both before and after you click the link. Like typos in emails and strange characters in the URL once you get there. Knowing what to look for is more than half the battle when it comes to preventing malicious activities. My opinion - take it for what you will. :-) David Needham http://enjoycreativity.com I agree completely. Even though I don’t work in IT directly anymore, I can still recognize this as a serious danger to casual users. And honestly I’m not sure that there is a good solution to this.

Yes, there are URL expanders and verifiers (like tinyurl.com has). But who uses those? Maybe a casual user who only comes across one every once and awhile, or one who has one that looks suspicious… but as someone who sees a shortened URL multiple times a day it’s just not practical.

The best “solution” is to become educated about the warning signs both before and after you click the link. Like typos in emails and strange characters in the URL once you get there. Knowing what to look for is more than half the battle when it comes to preventing malicious activities.

My opinion – take it for what you will. :-)

David Needham
http://enjoycreativity.com

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