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I decided to write this blog after I fell victim to malware attack via a shortened link from a URL shortener service provider which is not very reputed, because I was looking for a free service
Please read on to understand the security risks of URL shorteners
INTRODUCTION
There are many URL shortener websites available on the internet, either free or paid. URL
shorteners are very popular tools for sharing long and complex links on social media platforms and other channels. These services allow users to shorten lengthy URLs and links into a more manageable format that is easier to share. On the flip side of it, they also come with a number of risks that users should be aware of
The risks or disadvantages of using URL shortener services are many, I have mentioned only the most important ones, along with my own experiences of using them
WHAT are the RISKS OR DISADVANTAGES of URL SHORTENERS
Compressed URL security issue
Unlike a regular URL or link, which shows the website's name and web address, a shortened URL or link hides the destination website’s name, and that is where the risk comes in
MISUSE BY CYBERCRIMINALS
Compressed URL cyber awareness
One of the main risks of using URL shorteners is the potential for links to be used for malicious purposes by cybercriminals, who can use the shortened links to redirect users to fraudulent websites or distribute malware, such as viruses or spyware, to steal sensitive information, and may also cause harm to the user’s laptop or other devices. Additionally, URL shorteners mask the true destination of a URL or link, making it difficult for users to know where they are being directed and increasing the chances of falling victim to phishing attacks
It is my personal advice to the users to avoid using these URL shortener services, and retain the long regular URLs and links instead. I am into affiliate marketing and most of the time I use the regular URLs or links. When using a link shortener becomes an absolute necessity, only then I use the services of a reputed URL shortener website. Everyone should use reliable and reputed URL shortening services only
I have tried using other URL shortener services also, because I was looking for cheap alternatives, but through one such URL shortener site my laptop got infected with Malware and the two MSWord files in which I had stored the links got completed deleted from my laptop - both these files contained very important information
I immediately ran the antivirus check on my laptop, thankfully no other file(s) had been affected, and my device was also unaffected
SOME WEBSITES DO NOT PERMIT SHORTENED URLs and LINKS
Another reason why URL shortener services should be avoided is that there are many websites which do not allow shortened links, because they have their own inbuilt shortener systems which automatically shorten the links or URLs that you post in those sites
I am aware of this because I need to paste my affiliate links in different social media platforms to promote the products and services
RISK OF LINK ROT
One more risk of using URL shorteners is the potential for link rot. Because the shortened URLs and links rely on the existence of a third-party shortening service, if the service goes down or shuts down, the links may no longer work, resulting in non-functional links and causing frustration among the users. This will definitely have a negative impact on user experience and will ultimately impact business operations for companies and individuals that rely on shortened URLs and links. If at all the businesses and individuals want to use URL shortener services, then they should use only the reliable and reputable URL shortening services that have a good track record
NEGATIVE IMPACT of SEO and ANALYTICS
NOW, this is very important - the use of URL shorteners can also impact search engine optimization (SEO) and analytics. Shortened links mask the true destination of the link and can make it difficult for search engines to crawl and index pages, which can have a negative impact on a website's ranking. Also, businesses and marketers may have difficulty tracking user engagement and measuring the success of their campaigns. This can have a negative impact on the effectiveness of marketing strategies and the overall success of a business
It is important for businesses, marketers, and individuals to avoid the use of shortened links in situations where SEO and analytics are important, and to use long-form URLs and/or links as much as possible
THINK TWICE BEFORE CLICKING ON SHORTENED URLs AND LINKS
There is no way of verifying the legitimacy of these links because they mask the true destination that the URL or link is supposed to take the users to. From my personal experience I can tell you that, I think very carefully before clicking on links which do not show the direct path or address of the page that it is supposed to take me to. And for my affiliate marketing work, I use regular URLs and affiliate links (I prefer that), unless it becomes absolutely necessary to use some URL shortener service
It is important for the users of URL shortener services to be aware of the risks involved and rely more on regular URLs and regular links. In today's digital age, cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and dangerous, and it's important for users to remain vigilant and take steps to safeguard their online activities
WHY USING REGULAR URL AND LINK IS GOOD
Regular URLs and links offer several advantages that make them a valuable tool for businesses, marketers, and individuals
Regular URLs and links are the full and unaltered web and link addresses that provide a clear and direct path to a website, webpage or link. The names of the websites or webpages are clearly visible in the URLs and links, making them reliable and trustworthy. The chances of cybercrime and phishing are much reduced
TRANSPARENCY
One of the main advantages of using regular URLs is their transparency. Regular URLs and links provide users with a clear and direct link to a website, webpage or link. This makes it easier for users to verify the legitimacy of a link and avoid falling victim to phishing scams or malware downloads. This is the most important advantage of using regular URLs and links, and I, personally, feel safe using these regular URLs and links because I can see the name of the original site, and feel safe that I am being redirected to the correct platform
There is no chance of the user being redirected to some other site or platform
SEO AND ANALYTICS BENEFITS
Regular URLs and links also provide benefits for search engine optimization (SEO) and analytics, because they use clear descriptive keywords which provide a clear and direct path to a website, webpage or link. They make it easier for search engines to crawl and index pages, which can have a positive impact on a website's ranking and increases visibility in search results
Regular URLs / links also allow marketers and businesses to track user engagement, and measure the success of their campaigns more accurately, and take necessary steps to remove all the negative aspects
OFFERS THE VALUE OF CONSISTENT BRANDING TO THE BUSINESS
Regular URLs allow businesses and marketers to create consistent branding across all channels on the internet. Businesses and marketers can retain their brand identity and make it easier for users to recognize their websites or webpages. This consistency in branding also helps the Affiliate Marketers to increase their chances of earning more money. I, as an affiliate marketer, know that the visitors will not hesitate to click on links which contain the names of the websites or webpages that I am directing my buyers and prospective buyers to
NO RISK OF LINK ROT
There is no risk of link rot because regular URLs and links are not dependent on a third-party service. The URLs and links will continue to work for as long as the website, webpage or link remain active
BENEFITS TO AFFILIATE MARKETERS
Regular URLs and links also benefit the Affiliate Marketers, because their traffic source will feel confident and safe clicking on the clear and direct URLs or links, thus increasing the chances of a better income through affiliate marketing
Clear and direct URLs and links increase transparency, accuracy, and user engagement
Overall, here I would like to conclude by stating that my one experience of Malware attack has taught me the importance of regular URLs and original links. I use a very reliable URL shortener service only if the affiliate link runs into 3 or 4 lines (I am very sure, no one would like to click on such a long link)
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