Bit.ly Combats Spam

Twitter has many advantages. Its simplistic style and foundation has made it easy for users to adapt to its services. However, as previously addressed, Twitter can often be susceptible to spam. The possibility of spam is amplified by the use of URL shorteners. While URL shorteners allow users the flexibility of adding more text to their tweets and tracking how many people are clicking on their links, there are a few downsides to the services.

The downside to using a URL shortening service is that users cannot tell where the link is taking them to, and users can send their followers to spammy sites. One of the leaders in URL shortening services, Bit.ly, is taking a stand against spam in attempts to make the user experience safer. Bit.ly announced that it will be working with VeriSign, Websense and Sophos to help detect and defeat malware, analyze web content behind shortened URLs and use behavioral analysis to detect spam and malware, respectively. As microblogging evolves, so will the tools that help manage and enhance the services.