Make long URLs shorter
If you need to give a link to a long web address full of gobbledygook in an email, forum post or blog entry, you often find that the link doesn't work when you click it because word wrap has broken it.
Even normal web addresses can be a problem if you have to read them over the phone, or put them in an ad or print article. People may type them incorrectly, and perhaps end up at another site entirely.
Solution
The answer is to use an URL shortener like xaddr.com. This is a service that converts any web address to one that's much shorter, like this xaddr.com/a and then redirects people who use this short address to the original one.
There are many URL shortening services on the Internet. The best-known is TinyURL.com. However, unscrupulous people have exploited the fact that short addresses hide the true identity of a site, to trick people into visiting sites infested with pop-ups, spyware and offensive content. Some URL shorteners now offer an option of a preview page that lets you see where you are going to be taken before you go there. But you still need to know about this option before you can use it, and those who are most vulnerable to such trickery are often the least knowledgeable computer users.
The xaddr.com URL shortening service aims to create safer short URLs that you can trust in several ways. Addresses are screened before creation so that links to spam advertised sites are prevented. The short URLs created by xaddr.com always open a preview page, and the user must click on the link on the preview page to reach the destination. The address is checked a second time, and users are also given a link that will show them the SiteAdvisor rating for the destination.
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