URL shortening

Under a URL shortening service, engl. URL shortener, is defined as a service that for arbitrary URLs of existing websites, a second alias URL generated, which again leads via an HTTP redirect the call to the appropriate website. This short URL, URL alias or short link called alias usually consists of a few ( ASCII ) characters or numbers. This serves for containing bulky, large and problematic special characters URLs short and unproblematic aliases ( better to remember to type faster, ...) provide. Such URLs can be found mainly at sites that operate with database variables.

Widely used is the use of short URLs in micro- blogging services and status messages in social networks that allow both only a limited number of characters per message. Bitly is the most widely used service. To display the forwarding of short links, without having to visit them, " Redirect Checker" can be used.

Service

The offer usually consists of three parts:

Some short link services offer additional features, such as custom short links or password protection for short URLs,.

Technology

Example:

Risks

• URL aliases to hide the actual link destination from the user. A "real" link contains a variety of information such as the name of the server, the directory or file, with which his trustworthiness gives a better understanding. In URL aliases, the visitor is redirected if necessary without his consent on a page that he might not want to visit or can. This circumstance can be misused to unintentionally attract people to pages that compromise the user's computer through security holes in the Web browser, or initiate a cross-site request forgery. For this reason, many offer short - URL provider to request a preview link, through which you will be given first arrives to an intermediate page not directly to the target, but on the more information link to the target, for example:

Known and special services

The most popular URL shortening services are Bit.ly and Tinyurl.com. In addition to these operators, there are countless more short link providers, some of whom also seek the risks of short links, for example by installing anti-malware functions to minimize. The operated in Germany Short link service t1p.de (or 0cn.de ) yet also offers the possibility to activate an optional Dereferrer protection, which is intended to protect the privacy of users. However, all the disadvantages of short links can not be prevented by technical measures, which is why their use remains controversial despite a higher level of security.