Security Tips for Short Links: Staying Safe

By Huzi Team • 2024-01-20

Security Tips for Short Links: Staying Safe

The internet is a dangerous place. Phishing, malware, and scams are everywhere. Because URL shorteners “mask” the final destination, they are a favorite tool for cybercriminals.

However, they are also an essential tool for legitimate business. How do we balance utility with safety? This guide is for both creators of links and consumers (clickers) of links.

For the Clicker: How to Stay Safe

If you see a suspicious short link (e.g., in a text message from a stranger saying “You won a prize!”), DO NOT CLICK IT.

There are tools (like checkshorturl.com or unshorten.it) where you can paste the short link, and they will tell you where it goes without taking you there.

  • It peeks behind the curtain.
  • If the destination is paypal-secure-login-fake.com, you know it’s a scam.

2. Look at the Source

  • If Amazon sends you a link, it should look like amzn.to or have their domain.
  • If your bank sends you a bit.ly link, be very suspicious. Banks rarely use public shorteners for sensitive alerts.

3. HTTPS check

Once you click (if you brave it), ensure the landing page has the Lock Icon (SSL). But remember, even scam sites can have SSL now. The URL is the only truth.

If you use Huzi Url Shorten, you have a responsibility to your users.

1. Honest Destinations

Never mislead the user.

  • Don’t say “Click for a Kitten” and redirect to a “Gambling Site.”
  • This is called “Clickjacking” or false advertising.
  • It will get your links banned.

2. HTTPS Routes

Ensure your destination URL is https://.

  • Huzi enforces SSL on the short link (s.huzi.pk), but if you redirect to an insecure http:// site, the user gets a “Not Secure” warning in their browser.
  • This destroys trust in your brand.

3. Password Protection (Pro Feature)

If sharing sensitive documents, use a sharing service that has password protection (like Google Drive or Dropbox) and shorten that link.

  • Do not rely on the link being “unguessable.”

4. Monitor for Abuse

If you run a community where users can create links, you must monitor them.

  • Huzi utilizes internal scanning (via Cloudflare security features) to attempt to identify and block known malicious URLs.
  • We want our domain huzi.pk to remain “Clean” in the eyes of Google Safe Browsing.

The Role of Huzi in Security

We take security seriously.

  1. Cloudflare Shield: Our service sits behind Cloudflare, which provides DDoS protection and WAF (Web Application Firewall) services.
  2. No PII Storage: We don’t store your personal address or credit card info.
  3. Abuse Reporting: If you find a Huzi link that points to a scam, report it to us, and we will disable it immediately.

Conclusion

The short link is a tool of trust.

  • Users: Verify before you verify.
  • Creators: Build trust by being transparent and secure.

Together, we can keep the ecosystem safe and efficient.