Life with Technology

Anyone Need a Google Wave Invitation?

Google's latest buzz is called "Buzz". I'm still wondering if there are people who still uses complex service Google Wave, after the launch of Google Buzz. I'm a big fan of Buzz and am pretty regular at it. Last time I logged in to my Wave account and noticed that I'm given the power of inviting others to Wave account. I don't know if there are people still interested in trying out Google Wave. However, if there are people out there who are still hunting for a Google Wave invitation, request one here.

5 January 2010 View Comments

How do I Check the Real Link of a Shortened URL?

1

URLURL Shortening is a trend in today’s social media and web surfing. Big giants such as Google and YouTube have their own URL shorteners, too. It’s not just because the URL shortening is a trend of the present, but also it’s important for tiny conversations like twitter or facebook status.

The trend, URL Shortening, was founded by Tinyurl.com at first and spread widely by twitter. Because you’re limited by how many characters you can use in your conversation, you need everything short but right. That’s why URL Shortening is important and popular at the same time.

Tinyurl.com has an option to preview the shortened link before you visit the site. If you include a word, preview, before the domain tinyurl.com, you will see where the link goes. But what about other shorteners?

Well, you can easily check the link before you have a go to any shortened URL by this firefox plugin. But sometimes you just don’t want to restart your firefox and want a quicker way to do this.

Here comes what exactly you need.

Sucuri has got a nice little web-based tool to let you see the destination of a shortened URL. Not only that, the tool will also check the destination URL in two different ways to find out if it’s safe for you to have a go to the site.

Shortened URL

It's advised to check the destination of a shortened link before you decide to have a visit.

Conclusion

I strongly recommend checking out the real URL behind a shortened one before you click on the link, even if one of your friends tweeted this. Twitter is often harmful for these kinds of shortened URLs that may cause damage to your PC or leave spyware program to your computer. As a result, checking the real URL is important for safe surfing. Also, for the sake of your computer’s safety, you need to make sure that the website you are about to visit is declared safe. Use the tool to know if it is.

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More on this topic:

  • benlang
    Another great tool, it would be cool also as an extension/firefox plugin...
  • I think those who constantly use twitter should enable the firefox extension to make the job easier to get done.
  • These days affiliate marketers often use url shortening services to mask their affiliate link. Its a great web tool that will allow you to find out whether you are joining/buying any product from a affiliate link or as a direct buyer.

    Sometimes scammers or phishers also use url shortening service to hide the real url of phishing pages. if you are directed to google's login page by a short url just check if it is real or a trap.
  • I think this firefox plugin is better for you.
  • I didnt now you could do that, very cool! By the way are you writing that article about the retweet button?
  • Thanks for your comment, Ben. I'm just about to write the article about retweet button. Actually I'm too much busy with writing technology news for local online newspaper. That's my first job, you know. :)
  • yea...it's a useful tool...but as it is a time consuming job....sometime it may not take into action.
  • In that case, you might want to take a look at this post about a relevant Firefox Plugin that will not consume much time.

    Thanks for your comment.
  • Neat find; it would be swell to see that as a bookmarklet.
  • Greater idea! Yes, you can use that as a bookmarklet to get the job done easier.
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