Continuing our series on security predictions for 2010 and how to help you stay ahead of the game. Today we look at short url's also known as tiny url's or hyperlinks.
As the boom of social networking continues, more and more people are posting their status messages on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and many more.
The status message is typically limited in number of allowed characters and as such the need for tiny url’s likewise increases.
Our prediction for 2010 is that URL shortening services will become the phishers best friend because users often have no idea where the shortened URL is actually redirecting them to. Phishers are already disguising links that the average security conscious user will think twice about, however in the last few months we have seen an increase in the misuse of tiny urls to distribute malicious applications.
Bit.ly have just partnered with a number of security firms so that they can scan links before redirecting users, but they are just one of a rapidly increasing number of url-shortening services out there; the scope for hidden infections is vast.
Other predictions for 2010
- Just antivirus will not be enough
- Attacks from social engineering sites
- Scareware will increase
- Fraud by Social Networking
- Operating Systems
About Prolateral
Prolateral Consulting is in business to put your organisation back in control of your own Information Technology, specialising in information and messaging security, computer forensic services, and disaster recovery planning.
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