Re: using tinyurl or is.gd
James and Jeffrey and Andrea, thank you! I do appreciate the warnings. Now a related question: is it possible to corrupt an already tied URL? I am working toward primarily print publication: if I put a tinyurl or is.gd link in print, for the reader to key in, can it somehow be corrupted? Even if there is an electronic version of what I write, can a link given in that format be corrupted? I have been under the impression that malware lurked in URLs posted online. Is that incorrect? ernie kurtz - To unsubscribe, e-mail: users-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: users-h...@openoffice.apache.org
Re: using tinyurl or is.gd
On Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 2:31 PM, Ernie Kurtz wrote: > James and Jeffrey and Andrea, thank you! I do appreciate the warnings. > > Now a related question: is it possible to corrupt an already tied URL? I am > working toward primarily print publication: if I put a tinyurl or is.gd link > in print, for the reader to key in, can it somehow be corrupted? Even if > there is an electronic version of what I write, can a link given in that > format be corrupted? I have been under the impression that malware lurked in > URLs posted online. Is that incorrect? > > ernie kurtz > > Hello Ernie, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by a URL being corrupted. I can say that at least with is.gd, once the URL is set it can't be changed (including being redirected to a malware or other bad site). So once you shorten a link to a good site, it stays that way (as long as the site itself does). Incidentally, if you're shortening a link yourself, reconsider the wisdom of doing so in bit.ly: http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2010/10/the-ly-domain-space-to-be-considered-unsafe/ (That URL comes from is.gd.) PS: Feel free to call me Jeff - Thanks! Jeff Deutsch Speaker & Life Coach A SPLINT - ASPies LInking with NTs http://www.asplint.com Your mood can affect how you read this e-mail. Please read it with a smile. (http://tonecheck.com) - To unsubscribe, e-mail: users-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: users-h...@openoffice.apache.org
RE: using tinyurl or is.gd
Someone can have a URL to a malicious site and use a URL shortener to disguise that fact in the hope that folks can be duped into using it. If you use the shortener *yourself* to create a shortened link to a URL that you trust, the only problem is if 1. The URL is reassigned. This depends on how the shortener works and when their database will have to start purging used assignments. 2. The shortener system is hacked and the destination replaced. 3. The destination itself is hacked and the destination is infected with malicious content. This is the same risk whether or not a shortener is used. If the shortener service is abandoned or goes down, the shortened URL can become unusable. Likewise if the destination goes down, is abandoned, or it reorganizes its pages so that the particular URL now fails. The biggest limitation of a shortened URL is inability to know the true destination without accessing the shortener site somehow and inability to know the correct destination if the shortened URL is not working. My advice: Publish the full link that was known to work at the time of publication. A shortened URL could also be provided as a convenience for users entering URLs from printed copy, but the full one is the authentic, intended-to-be-persistent reference (along with other citation information so that someone could track down any new location, if necessary). - Dennis -Original Message- From: Ernie Kurtz [mailto:kurtz...@umich.edu] Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 11:31 To: users@openoffice.apache.org; jdeutsch.aspl...@gmail.com Subject: Re: using tinyurl or is.gd James and Jeffrey and Andrea, thank you! I do appreciate the warnings. Now a related question: is it possible to corrupt an already tied URL? I am working toward primarily print publication: if I put a tinyurl or is.gd link in print, for the reader to key in, can it somehow be corrupted? Even if there is an electronic version of what I write, can a link given in that format be corrupted? I have been under the impression that malware lurked in URLs posted online. Is that incorrect? ernie kurtz - To unsubscribe, e-mail: users-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: users-h...@openoffice.apache.org - To unsubscribe, e-mail: users-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: users-h...@openoffice.apache.org
Re: using tinyurl or is.gd
Thanks, Jeff, you answered my question thoroughly: is.gd URLs are trustworthy so long as the site to which they point is legitimate. I assume the same is true for tinyurls, but with so many being warned about them, it would seem wiser not to use tinyurl (even though I prefer all lower case to is.gd's melange). And from what the link you sent says, it seems wise to avoid .ly domains. What is gd, by the way, Greenland? Thanks again. ernie On Feb 24, 2013, at 3:06 PM, Jeffrey Deutsch wrote: > On Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 2:31 PM, Ernie Kurtz wrote: >> James and Jeffrey and Andrea, thank you! I do appreciate the warnings. >> >> Now a related question: is it possible to corrupt an already tied URL? I >> am working toward primarily print publication: if I put a tinyurl or is.gd >> link in print, for the reader to key in, can it somehow be corrupted? Even >> if there is an electronic version of what I write, can a link given in that >> format be corrupted? I have been under the impression that malware lurked >> in URLs posted online. Is that incorrect? >> >> ernie kurtz >> >> > > Hello Ernie, > > I'm not sure exactly what you mean by a URL being corrupted. I can say > that at least with is.gd, once the URL is set it can't be changed > (including being redirected to a malware or other bad site). So once > you shorten a link to a good site, it stays that way (as long as the > site itself does). > > Incidentally, if you're shortening a link yourself, reconsider the > wisdom of doing so in bit.ly: > > http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2010/10/the-ly-domain-space-to-be-considered-unsafe/ > > (That URL comes from is.gd.) > > PS: Feel free to call me Jeff - Thanks! > > Jeff Deutsch > Speaker & Life Coach > A SPLINT - ASPies LInking with NTs > http://www.asplint.com > > Your mood can affect how you read this e-mail. Please read it with a smile. > (http://tonecheck.com) - To unsubscribe, e-mail: users-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: users-h...@openoffice.apache.org
Re: using tinyurl or is.gd
On Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 3:33 PM, Ernie Kurtz wrote: > Thanks, Jeff, you answered my question thoroughly: is.gd URLs are > trustworthy so long as the site to which they point is legitimate. I assume > the same is true for tinyurls, but with so many being warned about them, it > would seem wiser not to use tinyurl (even though I prefer all lower case to > is.gd's melange). And from what the link you sent says, it seems wise to > avoid .ly domains. What is gd, by the way, Greenland? > > Thanks again. > > ernie Hello Ernie, The British ISP Memset founded and hosts is.gd (and v.gd) as a service to the Internet, based on the British possession of Grenada. They fully expect to be able to continue for a long time, and they make clear that once a link is shortened that assignment is permanent. Dennis, good points about security concerns. I posted previously about how any viewer can preview an is.gd link. Also, you're right about how shortened links can really help in print. People have two reasons to give shortened links even online: (1) Some people's email readers and browsers break very long URLs. Technically, one can still copy and paste the full URL. In practice, some just won't bother. (2) Link shorteners -- including is.gd -- offer tracking mechanisms so one can monitor, for example, just how many views the link has had, when they took place, from what countries, using what browsers, what sites referred them and the like. Cheers, Jeff Deutsch Speaker & Life Coach A SPLINT - ASPies LInking with NTs http://www.asplint.com Your mood can affect how you read this e-mail. Please read it with a smile. (http://tonecheck.com) > > On Feb 24, 2013, at 3:06 PM, Jeffrey Deutsch wrote: > >> On Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 2:31 PM, Ernie Kurtz wrote: >>> James and Jeffrey and Andrea, thank you! I do appreciate the warnings. >>> >>> Now a related question: is it possible to corrupt an already tied URL? I >>> am working toward primarily print publication: if I put a tinyurl or is.gd >>> link in print, for the reader to key in, can it somehow be corrupted? Even >>> if there is an electronic version of what I write, can a link given in that >>> format be corrupted? I have been under the impression that malware lurked >>> in URLs posted online. Is that incorrect? >>> >>> ernie kurtz >>> >>> >> >> Hello Ernie, >> >> I'm not sure exactly what you mean by a URL being corrupted. I can say >> that at least with is.gd, once the URL is set it can't be changed >> (including being redirected to a malware or other bad site). So once >> you shorten a link to a good site, it stays that way (as long as the >> site itself does). >> >> Incidentally, if you're shortening a link yourself, reconsider the >> wisdom of doing so in bit.ly: >> >> http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2010/10/the-ly-domain-space-to-be-considered-unsafe/ >> >> (That URL comes from is.gd.) >> >> PS: Feel free to call me Jeff - Thanks! >> >> Jeff Deutsch >> Speaker & Life Coach >> A SPLINT - ASPies LInking with NTs >> http://www.asplint.com >> >> Your mood can affect how you read this e-mail. Please read it with a smile. >> (http://tonecheck.com) > - To unsubscribe, e-mail: users-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: users-h...@openoffice.apache.org
Re: using tinyurl or is.gd
On 02/24/2013 02:31 PM, Ernie Kurtz wrote: I am working toward primarily print publication: Although a "tiny" URL is easier to type, a longer usually URL provides more information. If you use a tiny URL, I recommend that you find a way to also include the full version. Then, those that are leery of tiny URLs are happy, and, the user will know the site name (and similar) -- Andrew Pitonyak My Macro Document: http://www.pitonyak.org/AndrewMacro.odt Info: http://www.pitonyak.org/oo.php - To unsubscribe, e-mail: users-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: users-h...@openoffice.apache.org
Re: using tinyurl or is.gd
The whole point about tinyurls being untrustworthy is that they hide the real url and you never know what you are actually clicking on. Many unscrupulous people take advantage of that to send malicious links to all sorts of places and so now people are hesitant to click on such a link unless he knows and trusts the person who sent it. Someone else pointed out that with is.gd it is possible to preview the site to see where you are going before actually following the link. It has nothing to do with a link getting corrupted. Dale Erwin Jr. 28 de Julio 657, Depto. 03 Magdalena del Mar, Lima 17 PERU http://leather.casaerwin.org On 2/24/2013 3:33 PM, Ernie Kurtz wrote: Thanks, Jeff, you answered my question thoroughly: is.gd URLs are trustworthy so long as the site to which they point is legitimate. I assume the same is true for tinyurls, but with so many being warned about them, it would seem wiser not to use tinyurl (even though I prefer all lower case to is.gd's melange). And from what the link you sent says, it seems wise to avoid .ly domains. What is gd, by the way, Greenland? Thanks again. ernie On Feb 24, 2013, at 3:06 PM, Jeffrey Deutsch wrote: On Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 2:31 PM, Ernie Kurtz wrote: James and Jeffrey and Andrea, thank you! I do appreciate the warnings. Now a related question: is it possible to corrupt an already tied URL? I am working toward primarily print publication: if I put a tinyurl or is.gd link in print, for the reader to key in, can it somehow be corrupted? Even if there is an electronic version of what I write, can a link given in that format be corrupted? I have been under the impression that malware lurked in URLs posted online. Is that incorrect? ernie kurtz Hello Ernie, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by a URL being corrupted. I can say that at least with is.gd, once the URL is set it can't be changed (including being redirected to a malware or other bad site). So once you shorten a link to a good site, it stays that way (as long as the site itself does). Incidentally, if you're shortening a link yourself, reconsider the wisdom of doing so in bit.ly: http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2010/10/the-ly-domain-space-to-be-considered-unsafe/ (That URL comes from is.gd.) PS: Feel free to call me Jeff - Thanks! Jeff Deutsch Speaker & Life Coach A SPLINT - ASPies LInking with NTs http://www.asplint.com Your mood can affect how you read this e-mail. Please read it with a smile. (http://tonecheck.com) - To unsubscribe, e-mail:users-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail:users-h...@openoffice.apache.org - To unsubscribe, e-mail: users-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: users-h...@openoffice.apache.org
Re: using tinyurl or is.gd
On Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 5:36 PM, Dale Erwin wrote: > The whole point about tinyurls being untrustworthy is that they hide the > real url and you never know what you are actually clicking on. Many > unscrupulous people take advantage of that to send malicious links to all > sorts of places and so now people are hesitant to click on such a link > unless he knows and trusts the person who sent it. Someone else pointed out > that with is.gd it is possible to preview the site to see where you are > going before actually following the link. It has nothing to do with a link > getting corrupted. > > Dale Erwin > Jr. 28 de Julio 657, Depto. 03 > Magdalena del Mar, Lima 17 PERU > http://leather.casaerwin.org Hello Dale, Yes, I posted earlier in detail on ways in which anyone can preview an is.gd link. One way is putting a - right at the end for each link you want to preview. Andrew, very interesting point about finding out more from the long URL. The preview page for a shortened URL should provide the long URL. In any case, I see no harm from also providing the long URL as long as it's crystal-clear that the two are equivalent. Cheers, Jeff Deutsch Speaker & Life Coach A SPLINT - ASPies LInking with NTs http://www.asplint.com Your mood can affect how you read this e-mail. Please read it with a smile. (http://tonecheck.com) > On 2/24/2013 3:33 PM, Ernie Kurtz wrote: >> >> Thanks, Jeff, you answered my question thoroughly: is.gd URLs are >> trustworthy so long as the site to which they point is legitimate. I assume >> the same is true for tinyurls, but with so many being warned about them, it >> would seem wiser not to use tinyurl (even though I prefer all lower case to >> is.gd's melange). And from what the link you sent says, it seems wise to >> avoid .ly domains. What is gd, by the way, Greenland? >> >> Thanks again. >> >> ernie >> >> >> On Feb 24, 2013, at 3:06 PM, Jeffrey Deutsch wrote: >> >>> On Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 2:31 PM, Ernie Kurtz wrote: James and Jeffrey and Andrea, thank you! I do appreciate the warnings. Now a related question: is it possible to corrupt an already tied URL? I am working toward primarily print publication: if I put a tinyurl or is.gd link in print, for the reader to key in, can it somehow be corrupted? Even if there is an electronic version of what I write, can a link given in that format be corrupted? I have been under the impression that malware lurked in URLs posted online. Is that incorrect? ernie kurtz >>> Hello Ernie, >>> >>> I'm not sure exactly what you mean by a URL being corrupted. I can say >>> that at least with is.gd, once the URL is set it can't be changed >>> (including being redirected to a malware or other bad site). So once >>> you shorten a link to a good site, it stays that way (as long as the >>> site itself does). >>> >>> Incidentally, if you're shortening a link yourself, reconsider the >>> wisdom of doing so in bit.ly: >>> >>> >>> http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2010/10/the-ly-domain-space-to-be-considered-unsafe/ >>> >>> (That URL comes from is.gd.) >>> >>> PS: Feel free to call me Jeff - Thanks! >>> >>> Jeff Deutsch >>> Speaker & Life Coach >>> A SPLINT - ASPies LInking with NTs >>> http://www.asplint.com >>> >>> Your mood can affect how you read this e-mail. Please read it with a >>> smile. >>> (http://tonecheck.com) >> >> - >> To unsubscribe, e-mail:users-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org >> For additional commands, e-mail:users-h...@openoffice.apache.org >> >> > > > - > To unsubscribe, e-mail: users-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org > For additional commands, e-mail: users-h...@openoffice.apache.org > - To unsubscribe, e-mail: users-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: users-h...@openoffice.apache.org