Convenient as they are, link shortening services come with security issues. Phishing, for instance, is a common danger. We know that the web is full of links to malicious sites where your personal information can be stolen.
When you receive a link to a phishing site (as opposed to an email asking you to click on a link), you usually have some warning: either you can visually inspect the link or you can hover over it and see the real (and often suspicious-looking) address. With a link that’s been shortened, however, you have no such warning. The tiny link could lead to a site that will steal your identity.
Or, if the site doesn’t have its security totally locked down, it could be compromised in any number of ways. To learn more about the link shortening industry and some of the issues that can arise from using shortened links, read on further.
Security Concerns in URL Shortening
Phishing and Social Engineering Attacks
One of the most serious threats associated with using shortened URLs is their employment in phishing schemes. URL shorteners are handy tools for legitimate users who want to simplify their web addresses. But in the hands of cybercriminals, shortened URLs become tools for tricking unsuspecting users into clicking bad links.
Cybercriminals love them because they hide the true destination of the link. If you have ever clicked a link and been taken to a different place than you expected, you know how powerful this tactic is.
Loss of Transparency and Trust
When a shortened URL is encountered by users, they have no instant method of checking its verity or knowing the end point. This makes it impossible to know if a link is safe or not. Trust is obviously a big deal in online interactions, and links that have had their appearance altered in any way are very suspicious.
URL Hijacking and Manipulation
Certain services that shorten URLs let users personalize them. But that’s a double-edged sword, because it opens a door for malevolent actors to slip in and take over otherwise innocuous links. In some cases, these actors can even create links that, if used in a phishing attempt, could give them access to a system.
Data Tracking and Privacy Issues
Numerous Internet address abbreviation services monitor the interaction of users with the services they provide and gather a variety of data about the services’ users. This data can include the IP address of the user’s computer, the kind of device the user owns, and even what the user does while browsing the web.
These are the basics of web analytics. More and more, these kinds of services are being used to do more than just keep track of what the users are generally up to. They’re being used to track and compile a profile of the user. And that’s where the issue of privacy comes in.
Shortened URLs in Spam and Scams
People who send out spam often use shortened URLs to get around the filters set up to detect and block unwanted email. Since URL shorteners generate random alphanumeric strings, those strings make it near impossible for automatic security systems to detect whether the URLs they point to are safe.
Best Practices for Safe Link Sharing
Shorten URLs with Well-known, Trustworthy Services
Select URL shortening services that are well-established and trusted. They should offer security features like link previews, expiration controls, and analytics. These help ensure that the real destination of your link is accessible and safe for those who click on it. Avoid using URL shorteners that are unknown or suspicious.
Activate Link Previews
A few URL shorteners offer a preview feature. This allows the user to view the destination URL before clicking. It is a good idea to enable this feature. You will then know if a link is pointing to a legitimate destination, because you will be able to see the full URL.
Do Not Click on Shortened Links You Suspect May Be Harmful
Prior to clicking on a condensed URL, take a good look at the kind of source and context from which it was shared. If the link came to you via unexpected and unsolicited emails, direct social media messages, or from some unknown entity, you had better be sure it’s real and valid before going anywhere near it.
Carry Out Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
To enhance account security when using link shortening industry services, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA is an extra layer of protection that, when not breached, makes accounts and shared links virtually inaccessible to attackers.
Watch and Check Up on Shortened Links
Ensure that shortened links are regularly monitored and audited to detect any suspicious activity or unauthorized modifications. Most URL shortening services offer analytics dashboards that allow users to track link interactions and gather geographic and referrer data.
If any anomalies are detected, they should be thoroughly investigated, and necessary steps should be taken to safeguard the affected links.
Users Should be Educated About URL Security
It is very important to enlighten employees, customers, and the general public about the dangers of using shortened URLs. It is not enough to just tell them what the risks are; you must also offer training in security awareness, encouraging good security practices.
Combine Internet Address Security Services
Companies and institutions can unify URL security solutions, email security filters, and endpoint protection systems to automatically check and stop dangerous shortened links. Using these technologies to cover the top attack vectors helps ensure that end users are protected from these and other associated threats.
Report and Block Dangerous Shortened Web Addresses
If you find a doubtful abbreviated URL, tell the appropriate URL shortening service, cybersecurity authorities, or online safety forums about it. Stopping harmful URLs at the network level can prevent an even greater number of people from accessing suspect sites.
Beware of Various SEO “Techniques” in the Link Shortening Industry
Even though link shortening provides many benefits, such as increased convenience and link-sharing efficiency, it most definitely poses some serious security concerns. Among the most significant of these are phishing, distribution of malware, and link transparency.
And that’s not even beginning to discuss the concerns over data privacy. The fact of the matter is simple; when using shortened links, there’s a whole bunch of risks of which you need to be aware.
