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Short URLs — How Safe Are They?

By in Technology 1 Comment Tags: , ,

dont click short url

URL is the abbreviation for Uniform Resource Locator — otherwise known as a website address. Short URLs became popular when services such as Twitter gained momentum. It was impossible to stay within the allotted number of characters when you wanted to include the URL to a website. The only problem with short URLs are that you never know where the link will really take you. It could be to the website you expected, or it could be to a website that is full of viruses.

In today’s world, I never click on a short URL, even if it’s from someone I know. It’s just too risky. So what should you do instead? I found this great website (http://www.URLreveal.com) where you can enter in a short URL and it will show you the real URL behind it. If the real URL is not to the website you were expecting or to a random, unknown website, don’t go there. If you received the short URL from someone you know, ask the person for the full URL instead.

Bookmark this! Use it! Think of it as your online URL protection.

 

Operating System Maintenance – The Importance of OS Updates

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sneakernet800x600

Back in the day before everyone had internet and before our computers were “networked” together, it did not matter as much if you updated your Operating System (OS) in a timely fashion because there was no risk of someone being able to connect to your computer and cause harm. The only type of network you had was “SneakerNet” (that’s my name for it).

If you wanted to share a file with someone over SneakerNet, you would:

  1. Put a floppy disk into your computer
  2. Copy the data to the floppy disk
  3. Remove the floppy disk
  4. Put on your sneakers
  5. Walk to the other person’s desk
  6. Hand them the floppy disk

Remember this?

Since as a society we have all become “connected,” the same isn’t true. It’s now more important then ever to do OS updates on both computers and mobile devices. These OS updates help to fix dangerous security flaws, bugs, and more (sometimes issues that are not revealed immediately). These are not to be confused with application updates. The operating system is what runs your computer and mobile devices. Applications are what run on top of the operating system.

When Microsoft stopped updating Windows XP to the public, I think it became a challenge among the bad guys to see who was going to discover an exploit first. It took about a month (I won that bet). Remember, it’s not an easy thing to keep software and its users safe. It takes a lot of money and effort to write the code and test the updates before they are released into the wild (i.e., the public).

So next time you receive an OS update notification from Mac, Microsoft, or your favorite flavor of Linux, read up on what it fixes and then install the update in a reasonable amount of time.

Apple just came out with an update that fixes many bugs and security holes. Did you do your update yet?

Software Updates — Should You Fix or Repair Daily?

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iphone updates

Years ago, Microsoft was told they were sending out too many updates to their software. That’s what prompted the 2nd Tuesday of every month update schedule (unless an update was critical, which could occur at any time). Now Apple is doing almost the same thing with software updates that span across desktop and mobile devices. Same goes for Google and Android devices.

This week, I challenge you to track how many times you are asked to perform an update and track how many apps are being updated. Continue this for a month and for an average user, I’d estimate 15-20 updates. (I just did four!)

So the question is, are you like Pavlov’s dogs and as soon as it dings, bings, or beeps, you immediately interrupt your day and do your updates? Think about that. There is no law that says you need to update immediately or even every day. Even with OS updates, being one of the first to upgrade may make you into a Beta tester for bugs.

I recommended that you control your software updates. Don’t let them control you. I am not saying never do them. Just do them at a time that is convenient for you. And at the same time, uninstall some of those old apps that you no longer use and are taking up space and resources.