A newly released Symantec Internet Security Threat Report shows why the (mis)use of short URL codes has become one of criminal’s favored methods for distributing malicious code to unsuspecting consumers.
Using a compromised profile, criminals post links to malicious websites so the links will appear in their friend’s news feeds – and because these links have been shortened, it is even harder for recipients to identify the actual destination of the URL. During a three-month period in 2010, nearly two-thirds of malicious links included in news feeds observed by Symantec used shortened URLs, and 73% of these URLs were clicked on at least 11 times each. Thirty-three percent received between 11 and 50 clicks. And only 12 percent of the links were never clicked.
Learn how to avoid short URL scams by reading my blogs: Short URL Scams – Avoid the Traps, Report the Spammers and consider using the New Secure Short URL Service from McAfee.
Linda
