Yesterday a friend of mind sent me an email with the header "Quote". Immediately I was alarmed because #1, she is a very busy executive and normally doesn't email me. She calls me if she needs to talk. #2, the context of the email was off for what our normal conversations would be.
So, without opening the link in her email, I emailed her back and asked her if it was really her. "Yes, it's me Rebecca. How are you today?". My red flag was still there. I didn't open her email.
It turns out, as you may have already guessed that her email was hacked. It ran two or three layers deep unfortunately, as she teaches a class at a local college and a lot of her students opened her email link. She has an expert repairing it all, but what a pain this has become for her!
This leads me to today's post. I have been receiving a newsletter for years from Bob Rankin (www.askbobrankin.com). He's a techie who has provided a wealth of information for me over the years. I highly recommend you check out his newsletter and sign up. His newsletter today talks about how to preview shortened URL's, such as Goo.gl, bit.ly and TinyURL.
This is taken directly from his newsletter;
Goo.gl and bit.ly – simply append a “+” (plus) symbol to the end of the shortened URL in your browser’s address bar and press Enter.
Is.gd – lets you append a “-“ (minus) symbol to the shortened URL in its effort to woo ironic, contrarian hipsters.
TinyURL – add the prefix “preview.” (with the dot) to the beginning of the shortened URL, e. g. preview.tinyurl.com/aSefG2o5. Sigh; TinyURL was once a brilliant innovation.
Read more here: http://askbobrankin.com/security_tip_preview_shortened_urls.html#ixzz2kjzrCo5O
Great advice! Take precautions when you can to safeguard your online presence.
So, without opening the link in her email, I emailed her back and asked her if it was really her. "Yes, it's me Rebecca. How are you today?". My red flag was still there. I didn't open her email.
It turns out, as you may have already guessed that her email was hacked. It ran two or three layers deep unfortunately, as she teaches a class at a local college and a lot of her students opened her email link. She has an expert repairing it all, but what a pain this has become for her!
This leads me to today's post. I have been receiving a newsletter for years from Bob Rankin (www.askbobrankin.com). He's a techie who has provided a wealth of information for me over the years. I highly recommend you check out his newsletter and sign up. His newsletter today talks about how to preview shortened URL's, such as Goo.gl, bit.ly and TinyURL.
This is taken directly from his newsletter;
Goo.gl and bit.ly – simply append a “+” (plus) symbol to the end of the shortened URL in your browser’s address bar and press Enter.
Is.gd – lets you append a “-“ (minus) symbol to the shortened URL in its effort to woo ironic, contrarian hipsters.
TinyURL – add the prefix “preview.” (with the dot) to the beginning of the shortened URL, e. g. preview.tinyurl.com/aSefG2o5. Sigh; TinyURL was once a brilliant innovation.
Read more here: http://askbobrankin.com/security_tip_preview_shortened_urls.html#ixzz2kjzrCo5O
Great advice! Take precautions when you can to safeguard your online presence.
