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Making safer short URLs with Shuurl

Mon 23 Feb 2009 11:06:51 AM UTC — Deborah S.

WOT is happy to support the new URL shortening service Shuurl.

Have you ever clicked a shortened URL and been redirected to a site you would rather not have seen? This exact scenario happened to Shuurl developer Paul Maloney's friend one day at work. His boss wasn't pleased, and in response to his friend's distress (he got a warning!), Paul decided to do something about it.

In a field crowded with URL shorteners (about 100 at last count), Paul came up with a new variation of an already useful idea. Shuurl is a new concept in URL shortening. Not only does it do what you expect - convert a huge ugly string of characters into a clean little package - but Paul creatively incorporated the WOT widget to show the rating of the redirected link.

Here's what happens - when you receive a URL that has been shrunken using Shuurl and click on it, the link will open to the Shuurl page. Three important things show on that page:

A thumbnail with the image of the site
The WOT rating icon beside the link
Hover on the link, and see the tooltip which leads to the WOT scorecard

Shuurl

See an example here, http://shuurl.com/Y1226

Now, when you send or receive a short URL, you don't have to throw all caution to the wind when you open it. Shuurl, using WOT ratings, keeps you protected (and keeps the boss happy too!)

Vote for Shuurl here and share it with a friend.

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Comments

Shuurl

Mon 23 Feb 2009 01:45:39 PM UTC — cotojo

It has my vote as well as my rating on WOT. I am sure that this will be of great service to all who use it, especially with the WOT API creating a safety net.

Colin
http://freepcsecurity.co.uk

not only

Mon 23 Feb 2009 07:49:15 PM UTC — g7w

Not only does Shuurl incorporate WOT for a safety rating, it also displays a thumbnail image of the destination site as well as the original (long) URL.
This little graphic instantly allows you to determine if you want to go there or not., and with the addition of the WOT Rating System?
Man... talk about "killing two birds with one stone".

Shuurl has my [excellent] rating as well.
I can only hope Paul's site doesn't outgrow his abilities to maintain it.

peace,
G7W

Echo

Thu 26 Feb 2009 04:21:18 PM UTC — phantazm

Shuurl sounds like a really good idea! Url shrinkers have been around for years, and while they can be quite practical, they are not immune to abuse: shrinking a link also disguises the original target. But is Shuurl really the only linkshrinker that incorporates safety (and preview)..?

How about WOT making a list of safe shrinkers..?

Um, sorry to rain on this

Fri 27 Feb 2009 12:34:26 AM UTC — mattriley

Um, sorry to rain on this parade, but Snipr/Snipurl have had this for a few years already. Want this interstitial before people click on to the destination URL? Just add a "peek." to the snipurl. For example: http://peek.snipr.com/bailout_shailout

So WOT may "support" one new wannabe site with a singular trick that it thinks is "new", but it's not.

Um, sorry to rain on this

Fri 27 Feb 2009 08:06:27 AM UTC — Sami

Snipr/Snipurl have had this for a few years already

They've had WOT ratings for years?

The idea of URL shortening

Sat 07 Mar 2009 11:27:45 PM UTC — Tonor

The idea of URL shortening isn't new as demonstrated here, but Shuurl is using WOT ratings whereas your alternative doesn't appear to be. That's the point behind the blog post about Shuurl incorporating WOT ratings. If your suggestion is using WOT then I apologise.