Don't get narked, use xaddr.com

When I created our URL shortener site xaddr.com a year or so ago, one of my reasons for doing so was that I did not like the way other short URL sites like TinyUrl hid the destination link, so you didn't know where it would take you until it was too late. TinyURL added the option of a preview page, but it is just that, an option, which is turned off by default and most people who click on one of their links don't know about anyway.

Now someone has set up a site called LinkNark which you can use to unmask shortened URLs from Tiny and other clones. Type in a tiny URL, and it will show you the destination address. The trouble with this idea is, most people who click on tiny URLs don't know about this either, and those that do have probably enabled TinyURL's preview option anyway. The right solution would be for TinyURL and the rest to make the preview page the default setting, like we did.

LinkNark says: "Protect your friends. Tell them about LinkNark." Well, why not tell them about xaddr.com as well? The more people know about it and use it, the less the web will be filled with shortened links that conceal traps for the unwary.

The example short URL LinkNark gives for people to try the service, is a link to a site that uses some nasty Javascript to move your browser window around the screen so you can't close it. Someone created an xaddr.com link to that site several months ago. We deleted it and banned it. That's just one of the ways we try to protect our users.

When you type an xaddr.com address into LinkNark it says: "The link is not Cloaked or Forwarding." Isn't that better for web users?

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