TinyURL is an online URL shortener service. It takes a long link that may be many dozens of characters in length, and it turns it into a relatively tiny link. The shorter link is easier to handle, but it can also mask the identity of the site that the link leads to. If you are uncertain of the reliability of a TinyURL link, you can take steps to check the link's safety.
Tiny URLs, Big Problems
When TinyURL shortens a long web address, it creates a link in the form of letters and numbers that look nothing like the original. A short link may in fact lead to a scam website or one loaded with spyware, viruses or inappropriate content. Even if you trust the person sending you the link, it's safer to check it first before clicking on it.
How TinyURL Works
TinyURL is a link shortener. Let's say you start with a very long link that looks like this:
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After entering the long URL into the TinyURL.com text box, the URL shortener converts it to a tiny link, or at least, a tinier link:
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- https://tinyurl.com/ybeun8xt
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Long URLs can be very difficult to type by hand; any mistake will take you to the wrong page or none at all. A shortened link such as the example above is much easier to type.
TinyURL users can also customize the shortened link. For example:
- https://tinyurl.com/SmallBizness
If someone sends you a TinyURL link and you are unsure of its credibility, there are a few ways to check the link safely.
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Use the TinyURL Preview Function
Before clicking an unknown TinyURL link, head to the TinyURL website or a similar site. On the left side, you'll see a menu of site options. Click on Preview Feature and then click on Click here to enable previews. This will place a cookie on your computer that will display the original link to you when you click a TinyURL rather than sending you directly to the site. Once you see the original URL, you can decide whether to click through to the final destination site.
The "Preview_"_ function will work for all future TinyURL links that you use, as long as the feature remains enabled.
Add Preview to the Link
If you don't want to enable the TinyURL cookie, you can add the word "preview" to the TinyURL to display the original link. If your TinyURL is:
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- https://tinyurl.com/SmallBizness
add the word "preview" before ".tinyurl":
- https://preview.tinyurl.com/SmallBizness
to safely display the original URL without the need to go to the actual site.
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Use a URL Decoder
There are several services online that will decode a TinyURL for you. For example, TrueURL.net will take a TinyURL and "unravel" it so you can see the original URL.
Tip
Other URL shorteners are available online in addition to TinyURL. Services like TrueURL will decode these other URLs as well; whereas, the TinyURL preview only works for TinyURL links.
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Warning
Decoding a TinyURL shows you the original site address. But this information alone is no guarantee the link is safe to click on. Use the same precaution for a decoded TinyURL link as you would for any unfamiliar site that you are visiting on the internet.
References
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