Can TinyURLs Become Big Threats?

TechRepublic just published a great article on the security risks of shortened urls via services like Tinyurl and Bit.ly. Although phishing via masked or similar URLs isn't a new tactic, thanks to Facebook and Twitter these services have become mainstream and users are letting their guard down with shortened URLs.

Users either blindly click on a malicious site with a shortened URLs, or users click on what looks like URLs from these URL-shortening sites without regard. This article talks about using the preview services that are available, and why users should be encouraged to check before clicking.

Perhaps as these services proliferate, they can better share information to identify and block suspicious sites that attempt to misuse these otherwise helpful tools.