Re: Link Shortening Tools are High Risk
Link Shortening Tools are High Risk | Forking Mad+
When you see a shortened link you have absolutely no idea where you will end up. It's like a lottery. You put trust in the person sending the link that it will take you where they suggest. Example: "Follow this link for my blog post" style of message.
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For all you know, the link could take you to an unexpected website -- potentially malicious. You could land on a porn site, or a website with tracking code; attempting to install software; stealing your data. These are all very possible options.
This is true with any link. I could have a link to my website like reedybear.com/brown-bears/ and then just redirect you to wherever I want, including external websites.
Online you're always operating on some level of trust. First and foremost is trust in the browser('s developers) to protect you from anything malicious running on a webpage. Second is maybe some trust in your operating system to not be giving your applications root-level access or whatever. Third is trusting the author of the content you're looking at, the person who's website you're already trusting by reading their article (unless you're on social media or something).
I accept that there is some added risk with a link-shortening service of ending up in a bad, unexpected place. But I think it is only a fraction more risky than following any link online at all.
Disclaimer: I've been programming for many many years but am not a cyber-security expert, so it's kind of like asking your heart surgeon for advice about a sprained ankle.