Owly shorten link5/24/2023 This practice is even able to circumvent provider blacklists. However, this link could send the user to a website that attempts to comprise their computer using security vulnerabilities in the web browser. For instance, any cyber-criminal could essentially create a short URL and thereby conceal it as a link to an ostensibly trustworthy company, sent in a credible-looking email. Another reason is the danger of misuse associated with the existence and use of these kinds of services.īy nature, URL aliases hide the real link destination from the user, and this can be exploited for phishing. There are a variety of reasons for these risks: One of them is that data is also stored on an external server – the provider’s server – when creating a short URL, which generates a cookie. Instagram), where space is limited to just a few characters.Īnyone who types “URL shortener” into Google will inevitably find countless articles covering the various security risks of using link shorteners. ![]() Small URLs are also widespread in microblogging services like Tumblr as well as in messaging services (e.g. On the other, you can track each individual link to determine the effectiveness of an online or offline advertising campaign based on the click rates, for example. On the one hand, this lets you generate links with adapted wording for various platforms (e.g. What’s more, multiple variants of the same URL can be created with a link shortener. For the same reasons, shortened URLs have also become popular in email texts, where inserting clickable hyperlinks is unadvisable in any case due to security concerns. Plus, it can be entered into the address line of a browser with just a few keyboard strokes. ![]() By contrast, a shortened version of the same link is easy to integrate – without affecting the overall appearance – and can be accompanied by a corresponding QR code. In print media like business cards and promotional materials, a lengthy link would have to be printed very small or over multiple lines neither option is elegant or practical. This is particularly beneficial if an address is long or contains lots of special characters, as is the case with websites that operate with database variables.Ībove all, small URLs make it easier for the user to share the link – either by copying and pasting, or by manual typing. digitalguide) in the generated link.Ī link compressed using a URL shortener takes up less space, is less complex and therefore easier to memorize and use. 1and1.ionos/) or a piece of information (e.g. Some providers also allow users to customize short URLs, enabling them to include a brand or company name (e.g. For example, the link '' – shortened with bit.ly – contains the identifier 2GXCxfW. Unique identifier: The second half of a small URL is given by a short, randomly generated sequence of ASCII letters and digits, which is only assigned once within the service and serves as a unique identifier.For instance, the service bit.ly uses the country-specific, top-level domain for the country of Libya (.ly). Domain of the service provider: Link shortener service operators normally use foreign domain endings (top-level domains) that are less widespread and also allow a more memorable name for their service (a practice known as domain hacking).Some services also explicitly offer time-limited links.Ī shortened URL generally comprises the following: This works as long as the provider of the short URL service remains in operation. The browser then automatically accesses the desired website. This data transfer can sometimes involve a short delay – but this is negligible in view of the benefits these services provide. The user can now use the shortened link without any restrictions and share it in a forum, for example.Īs soon as someone (a client) clicks on the link, their web browser is first directed to the URL shortener’s database, where the target URL is determined and sent back to the client. ![]() This instantly creates a randomly generated small URL and saves the original and alias in an internal database. Here, the user enters the desired address into an online form on the service’s website. Link shorteners are online services that provide a second, alternative URL (also known as a URL alias) for the URL of any existing website.
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