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# <center>Introduction</center>

You have probably gotten unsolicited SMS or Whatsapp message where the sender promised huge giveaway and ask you to just click a link to claim your prize - a prize you know nothing about. Beware!!! Most good things in life are expensive and not free. So when you see that message promising you free cash, data or crypto, just watch it especially if the sender has used a URL shortener to hide the main web address. So in this tutorial we are going to cover the following points:

* **What is a URL Shortner and what is the Legitimate use?**
* **Why do Scammers use it?**
* **How can I unmask a shortened URL?**
* **How can I shorten a URL**

![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYZ7YwvJ7FAMuHgBBCHFhHv7y8F5kpuf9Pcn8dts5m53b/image.png)

# <center>What is a URL Shortner and what is the Legitimate use?</center>

The use of website addresses have become a common necessity anytime you come online. Visiting any website would require clicking on a web address or typing and searching it in the address bar. However, some website addresses are very long, such that sending it through a traditional means like SMS will make the message too long - probably longer than one page. So in order to address this issue, an online service that shortens hides a long URL and replaces it with a short one was born.

So a URL shortner is an online service that takes a long URL and hides it beneath a shorter one. Once a user clicks the shortened URL, it takes them to the same webpage. Basically, the user does not get to see the long URL. Just click the short URL and you are there.

Short URL's are very important in the world of mobile messaging. A standard SMS page can contain 160 characters maximum. So if you are planning to send your company website address in addition to some promotional content, the message might exceed one page. So a long URl is usually shortened in this case so that the text message size for one page is not exceeded. 

In addition to managing the length of a text message, URL shorteners  make a website address to be decent. No matter the domain name used for the website address, the shortened form is - like you know - short and neat. However, like every good thing, criminals have abused this great service. Since the shortening service hides the main web address, fraudsters now use it to hide the web address of their phishing links. There are at least two reasons why they do this.

![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYZ7YwvJ7FAMuHgBBCHFhHv7y8F5kpuf9Pcn8dts5m53b/image.png)


# <center>Why Scammers use Shortened URLs</center>

Fraudsters try very hard to hide who they are. So shortening their fake web addresses is perfectly done through a URL shortener. Here are two reasons why they hide their web adresses:

**1. They Secretly Install a Malicious app or Software on your device:** When they hide the URL from where you will unknowingly install a malicious app or software, it becomes difficult to know what you are doing. These apps or softwares can track your physical location, record your online activity, or even steal personal data from your device. The criminal wants you to download and install such apps. So they hide the web URL using a shortner so that you can click and install a malicious program without being aware of it.

**2. They take you to a phishing website:** A phishing website is setup to steal your login details. Most phishing websites are made to look exactly like the original website so that their victims will not know they are in the wrong place. So when  the scammer is done with the phishing website, he has to hide the website address too using a URL shortner. In this way, you will not know the web address you are visiting. Once you are there, they will ask you to login as usual. if you do, you have given them your login credentials without being aware of it.


So in order not to fall victim to such traps, you need to know the website  hidden under a shortened URL.

<center>
![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmTm2HQiy2yEBZaG5xz6BaxGC5Ub9oGh1KCyCbBtehDG3w/image.png)
<sub>**How Scammers use shortened URLs. My screenshot**</sub></center>

![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYZ7YwvJ7FAMuHgBBCHFhHv7y8F5kpuf9Pcn8dts5m53b/image.png)

# <center>How can I unmask a shortened URL</center>

First of all, you need to know how a shortened URL looks like. There are two major URL shortening services online. They are:

**1. The first URL shortener I want to mention is TinyURL:** The website address is https://tinyurl.com/app. So if you shorten a URL using this service, the shortened web address will look like this: https://tinyurl.com/2u33mws8

**The Second one is Bitly.** The website address is https://bitly.com/. IF you us Bitly to shorten a URL, the address will look like this: https://bit.ly/39gGJHO

So if you want to know the actual web address that these links will take you to, then here is how to do it.

**1. For TinyURL addresses** Just add **preview** after the https. For example, if we want to unmask https://tinyurl.com/2u33mws8, I will add preview like this: https://preview.tinyurl.com/2u33mws8. So instead of taking you straight to the website they want you to visit, it will take you first to TinyURL main website where they will tell you the original website hidden behind the shortened one.

**2. For Bitly addresses:** This one is very easy. Just add + at the end of the URL. For example, to unmask this https://bit.ly/39gGJHO, I will add + at the end to have: https://bit.ly/39gGJHO+

So in these ways, you will be able to know the destination website hidden behind a shortened URL. It is then left for you to decide to go ahead and visit it or simply avoid the site, especially those that come with unsolicitated data, money or crypto giveaways.

![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYZ7YwvJ7FAMuHgBBCHFhHv7y8F5kpuf9Pcn8dts5m53b/image.png)

# <center>How can I shorten a URL</center>

Like I mentioned earlier, this service can be used legitimately. So if you have any reason to shorten any URL before sending to your friends, its easy to  do that. Here is how to do it for each:

### <center>Shorten links with TinyURL</center>

**Step 1:** Go to https://tinyurl.com/app/
**Step 2:** Enter the URL you want to shorten in the first box provided.
**Step 3:** Click **Make TINYURL**. You can then copy your short URL and share. See illustration below:

<center>
![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcN53o9hWteeycoqqLuHPkQn8Gc6Mo2ew2dHeapm7vsNW/image.png)
<sub>**Screenshot form [TinyURL](https://tinyurl.com/app/)**</sub></center>

I just made this one which redirects to steemit.com: https://tinyurl.com/2u33mws8

### <center>Shorten links with Bitly</center>

Bitly requires that you sign up with a username and email to use their service. 

**Step 1:** After signing up, login at https://app.bitly.com/ and click CREATE
**Step 2:** Enter the long URL in the box provided
**Step 3:** Click CREATE. You can copy and share your short URL. See illustrations below:

<center>
![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRG8xLWgWaBLc4eGoHWdGdqN9aiTnbXuJ3TS7281kq6ps/image.png)
<sub>**Screenshot form [Bitly](https://bitly.com/)**</sub></center>

I just created this link which redirects to www.steemit.com: https://bit.ly/39gGJHO

![image.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYZ7YwvJ7FAMuHgBBCHFhHv7y8F5kpuf9Pcn8dts5m53b/image.png)

# <center>Conclusion</center>

Do not fall victim to hidden phishing links, or waste your time filling forms for free money you will never receive. Some of these people simply collect your personal contacts like email and phone numbers and sell them to Telemarketing companies. There is usually no free data, crypto or money anywhere. Before you click on any hidden link, check first. **Look before you leap!!!!**

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