Are short links safe?
A short link isn’t good or bad in itself: it just hides its destination. It all depends on who made it and what the shortening service checks.
Why can a short link be risky?
Because it masks the real address: a short link can lead to an official site or to a phishing page. Scammers use them to hide a suspicious address, exactly as with fake QR codes.
The same reasoning applies to dynamic QR codes, which are short links drawn as a pattern; see QR code scams.
How can I tell where a short link goes before clicking?
Look at who sent it and in what context: a short link in a shop’s official bio is reassuring; one in a text from an unknown number isn’t. On a computer, hovering only shows the short address — it’s the page that opens you need to check.
Once the page opens, read the address in the browser bar before typing anything.
What does Scanotte check on its short links?
Scanotte’s code provides for checking every destination with Google Web Risk when it’s saved, when that service is switched on; links known to be dangerous (malware, phishing, unwanted software) would then be refused, and destinations in use re-checked daily. In any case, a short link can’t point to another Scanotte short link, which would hide the real destination.
The app also warns creators when a link looks like a login or payment page, or isn’t on https. Anyone can report a link; a blocked link shows a warning instead of redirecting.
What about the privacy of people who click?
At Scanotte the redirect sets no cookie and never keeps the IP address. The owner sees trends (date, device, system, approximate country), not people.
Details in QR codes and GDPR. To make your own links, see the link shortener.
How do I make my short links trustworthy?
Give them a custom name that says what they open (say, your shop’s name plus “menu”), publish them on your official channels, and say plainly where they go: “our menu on our website”.
Avoid shortening payment links sent by text: people are right to be wary of those. For printed material, an editable QR code does the same job.
Should I avoid short links altogether?
No, they’re useful wherever space is tight or people need to type a link. The rule is simply to trust the sender, not the link.
If you publish short links yourself, prefer a service that checks destinations and lets the public report abuse.
Frequently asked questions
Can a short link contain a virus?
The link itself can’t; the page it leads to might. That’s why serious services check destinations.
How do I report a dangerous Scanotte link?
Through Scanotte’s report page, with the link’s address. The team can block it.
Do Scanotte short links expire?
Not while your plan covers them; after cancelling, those beyond the free plan keep redirecting for 12 months, then show “expired”.
Can I have a short link on my own domain?
No, Scanotte doesn’t offer custom domains; you can, however, choose the name after the short address.