12 URL Expanders to View and Investigate Shortened Links

Several years ago, I have posted the presentation devoted to the URL shorteners, and offered there some examples of when and how they can be potentially useful for the Internet users. However, there are opposite cases, when you get short URL might hide spam link or direct you to the fishing sites in order to capture personal information, or even worse, can redirect you to malicious web sites containing dangerous malware, which is unhealthy to your computer.

If you are not sure, what can be hiding behind the short URL, and you want to expand it to the real URL address, which will allow you to make more informative decision, if you want to go there, as usual you can get help from the free Web services. These services will uncover the original links, when you submit the questionable shortened URL.

This is a short list, selected by the platform.

Web-based Services

1. LongURL.
2. URL  X-ray.
3. Find Hidden URL. Besides simple expansion, the site offering WOT (Web of Trust) analysis. Now even if you don't know the website, you can depend on WOT to ease your decision.
4. Sucuri.
5. Clybs.
6. Where does this link go.

Firefox Plugins

7. LongURL Mobile Expander.
8. Xpnd.it! short URL expander.

Google Chrome Plugins

9. Tactical URL Expander.
10. ChromeMUSE. This plugin presents the possibility to expend the short URL, or shorten the real URL, working both ways.
11. Miniscurl Universal URL Shortener/Expander. The same as previous service, can offer both links shortening and expansion.

Android Smart Phones

12. Long URL Expander.