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The HE sector, like other sectors, is seeing an increase in the use of shortened URLs in phishing and malware scams. When examining a long URL it is relatively easy to determine the nature of the target and the possible risk posed by clicking on it. There are mechanisms for transforming and exposing the real URL behind a short URL, though not widely known, so short URLs pose an increasing and significant risk. Institutions can deal with the problem in a number of ways, such as blocking the use of short URL domains within the local network, or user training. Blocking the use of short URLs within a local HE network would pretty much break the use of social media and other services for staff and students. Has anyone implemented an automated solution? Such as using auto translation of short to long URLs followed by auto domain checking against an exclusion list at some stage in the network before URLs are passed for resolution. Regards, -- Joe Hoyle Senior Manager, Digital Marketing Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA Tel: +44 (0)20 7815 6037 Email: [log in to unmask] [logo_10px_topandbottom]<http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/> [social2]<http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/about/connectLSBU.shtml> Copyright in this email and in any attachments belongs to London South Bank University. This email, and its attachments if any, may be confidential or legally privileged and is intended to be seen only by the person to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, please note the following: (1) You should take immediate action to notify the sender and delete the original email and all copies from your computer systems; (2) You should not read copy or use the contents of the email nor disclose it or its existence to anyone else. The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and should not be taken as those of London South Bank University, unless this is specifically stated. London South Bank University is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales. The following details apply to London South Bank University: Company number - 00986761; Registered office and trading address - 103 Borough Road London SE1 0AA; VAT number - 778 1116 17 Email address - [log in to unmask]