@LaurieDesAutels

Shortened URLS are used as the primary link in updates (aka tweets). It makes good sense to use these shortened URLS considering that some URLS seem longer than the Mississippi River and a twitter user only gets 140 characters per tweet.

Personally, we love the shortened URLs. The downfall, is that we don’t really know whats on the other side of these short links. What we do know is that many spammers and hackers are taking advantage of “certain” shortened URLS by hiding malicious infectious sites behind the URLS.

The good news is Twitter appears to be blocking Malicious shortened URLS now. For example, users that try sending tweets that link back to known infected sites get a new message on their main twitter screen that says: “Oops! Your tweet contained a URL to a known malware site!”

If you use a 3rd party twitter client, tool or app like tweetdeck or tweetlater that has a shortened URL integrated within their system, keep an eye out for the blocking malicious shortened URLS. Afterall, its for the good and for everyones protection.