Posted 10/13/09 at 09:06:29 PM by Ryan Whitwam

You probably encounter more shortened URLs these days. These links, while convenient, are also a great way to hide a link to a malicious site. You can blame Twitter for their proliferation. With only 140 characters, tweeting a full link is impractical. Now AVG is stepping up to the plate to offer a method of protection.

AVG’s LinkScanner security product now fully supports shortened URLs. AVG says the LinkScanner system is more reliable than other methods because it tests links in real time. Whether or not it's the best, it is free.

The free malware scanner, Ad-Aware, has also added new features. The new enhancements are aimed at detecting and removing rootkits. A rootkit is a piece of malware that specializes in getting deep into the operating system to avoid detection. Ad-Aware uses heuristic detection to search for these nasty bits of software. It is also able to stop certain types of malware from restoring themselves after a reboot. Ad-Aware is a free download [warning, attempted upsell],  and well worth having a look at.

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Posted 10/08/09 at 03:00:00 PM by Florence Ion

Welcome to the wonderful world of URL shorteners, where internet links hide behind abridged monikers to sheath their unwieldy length. You may have seen them fluttering about on the Internet; they’re currently infesting Twitter feeds, blog posts, Facebook status updates, and yes, even in print publications. Long winded web addresses, with tracking codes and web stats, have become so passé. Linking to one will make you seem like a Jurassic entity, which is why URL shorteners have shot up in popularity. The first of these services, TinyURL began rapidly proliferating when social networking and blogging stormed the web scene. Users everywhere needed a simple way to share their favorite links and ensure that their web friends and followers had an accessible way to navigate their content. With the advent of microblogging sites where every character counts, more of these services have emerged to become an essential part of internet life.

We take a look five popular URL shorteners, evaluate the merits of each, and ponder on the future of this link shrinking technology.

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