Hi All I didn't like the look of the link, either, and would have avoided it like the plague. The message surrounding it seemed to be OK, but I do think there is a serious problem with links that bypass the http://www. addressing system because of the threat from spurious e-mails and websites. When there is a name there, as with http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl people can make their own reasoned judgement, based on past experience. So, why on earth doesn't a 'findmypast' shortcut include the name 'findmypast' somewhere in the address? I suggest ignoring links like this until the web developers concerned get their act together and put more reasonable thinking into their design work. I'd definitely advise avoiding any links that don't look familiar, just to be safe. The IT people need to take into account the problem of viruses and bad web-links and act accordingly - and not design new systems that are ambiguous as to their veracity - as if they're living in a world of their own where it is assumed everyone else will know what they're doing is genuine, when they're actually making themselves look like spammers. Best regards Clive Tel/Fax: 020 7987 8820 www.secret-bottletop.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Allan & Liz" <Alliz55@tpg.com.au> To: <powys@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, July 13, 2012 1:47 AM Subject: Re: [POWYS] online parish registers > Hi David and Steve > > The problem is spammers also use this system. For safety reasons no one > should open links that they can't relate to. > > It could be linked to a site that could down load dangerous content. > > By using and making people think that these short cuts are safe can lead > to their computer being violated and in the worst case they may loose > all of their data. > > I am an IT Manager and no one in out company is allowed to open links > they don't know. Our systems will block the site from opening anyway. > > Regards > Allan > > On 13/07/2012 10:31 AM, David wrote: >> It's a "short link", typically used to make long links short, >> particularly for forums, emails, mailing lists etc. where they may get >> truncated and not work. >> >> See: >> >> http://goo.gl/ >> >> >> and others. >> >> On Fri, 2012-07-13 at 10:04 +1000, Allan & Liz wrote: >>> Hi Steve >>> >>> That's what spam websites look like, so its a dangerous habit to use >>> shortcuts that look like tht. It's better just to present the real web >>> site then there's not confusion. >>> I get junk emails regularly that look like that, so I just delete them >>> for safety. >>> >>> Allan >>> >>> On 13/07/2012 9:35 AM, Steve Williams wrote: >>>> No, it is not a SPAM address. It is a short-cut link to a >>>> http://www.findmypast.co.uk page. When you examine the text around the >>>> link, you will discover that it is legitimate. A Spammer will not >>>> bother >>>> to obtain that kind of detailed or specific information. >>>> >>>> Steve >>>> >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: powys-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:powys-bounces@rootsweb.com] On >>>> Behalf Of Allan & Liz >>>> Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2012 4:19 PM >>>> To: powys@rootsweb.com >>>> Subject: Re: [POWYS] online parish registers >>>> Importance: High >>>> >>>> All Members >>>> >>>> The web site below looks like a SPAM web address - please don't open >>>> >>>> Allan >>>> >>>> On 13/07/2012 4:05 AM, David wrote: >>>>> Many Welsh PRs have just been added on-line (index and original >>>>> image): >>>>> >>>>> http://tidd.ly/958288d3 >>>>> >>>>> See the lists for coverage, though note there may be some gaps in the >>>>> years. >>>>> >>>>> Glascwm & Colfa are both on there. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> David >>>>> >>>>> On Thu, 2012-07-12 at 16:50 +0100, DAVID JONES wrote: >>>>>> Could any one advise if I can find parish registers on line for St >>>>>> Davids COLVA/COLFA & Glascwm/Glascombe Please =================== >>>>>> Visit the Powys Mailing List webpage at: >>>>>> www.jlb2011.co.uk/powyslist.htm >>>>>> >>>>>> ------------------------------- >>>>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>>>> POWYS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >>>>>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>>>> =================== >>>>> Visit the Powys Mailing List webpage at: >>>>> www.jlb2011.co.uk/powyslist.htm >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------- >>>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>>> POWYS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >>>>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>>>> >>>>> >>>> =================== >>>> Visit the Powys Mailing List webpage at: >>>> www.jlb2011.co.uk/powyslist.htm >>>> >>>> ------------------------------- >>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>> POWYS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >>>> quotes >>>> in the subject and the body of the message >>>> >>>> =================== >>>> Visit the Powys Mailing List webpage at: >>>> www.jlb2011.co.uk/powyslist.htm >>>> >>>> ------------------------------- >>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>> POWYS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >>>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>>> >>>> >>> >>> =================== >>> Visit the Powys Mailing List webpage at: www.jlb2011.co.uk/powyslist.htm >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> POWYS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> =================== >> Visit the Powys Mailing List webpage at: www.jlb2011.co.uk/powyslist.htm >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> POWYS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes >> in the subject and the body of the message >> >> > > > =================== > Visit the Powys Mailing List webpage at: www.jlb2011.co.uk/powyslist.htm > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > POWYS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

Dear Listers, While it's always wise to be cautious about clicking on unfamiliar links, there are sometimes justifiable reasons why a long URL has been shortened before including it in an e-mail. For example, an e-mail program's word-wrapping feature may cause a long URL to be split onto two lines, especially if the URL contains a hyphen [-]. In such cases, only the first line of the URL may appear as a hot link. Clicking on a partial link like this usually results in a 'Page not found' type of error. Shortening the URL eliminates this problem. As has been mentioned, there are several companies offering URL shortening services. The one I prefer is TinyURL (http://tinyurl.com/) which has been around for many years. All the shortened URLs generated by TinyURL include "http://tinyurl.com/" in the URL. For example: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/group/ukicen/UK_Census_Collection.aspx is shortened to http://tinyurl.com/cg7wtgh As has been mentioned, real spam messages almost always contain either no supporting text, or text that is badly expressed and/or poorly spelt, or text which is irrelevant to genealogy. Kind regards, John -------------------- John Ball, Brecon, Mid-Wales, UK E-mail: john@jlb2011.co.uk Administrator - Powys (& BRE/MGY/RAD) RootsWeb mailing lists Personal website: http://www.jlb2011.co.uk/ Images of Wales: http://www.jlb2011.co.uk/walespic/ Welsh Family History Archive: http://www.jlb2011.co.uk/wales/ Joint Webmaster - Breconshire Local & Family History Society http://www.blfhs.c.uk/ GENUKI Breconshire Maintainer: http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/BRE/

Hi Clive Here, here. They are just trying to brainwash us into believing every thing has to be shortened. It's about time people started to write longhand so everyone can read it not just the lazy people. Allan On 13/07/2012 11:14 PM, Clive Gardener wrote: > Hi All > > I didn't like the look of the link, either, and would have avoided it like > the plague. > > The message surrounding it seemed to be OK, but I do think there is a > serious problem with links that bypass the http://www. addressing system > because of the threat from spurious e-mails and websites. When there is a > name there, as with http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl people can > make their own reasoned judgement, based on past experience. > > So, why on earth doesn't a 'findmypast' shortcut include the name > 'findmypast' somewhere in the address? I suggest ignoring links like this > until the web developers concerned get their act together and put more > reasonable thinking into their design work. > > I'd definitely advise avoiding any links that don't look familiar, just to > be safe. The IT people need to take into account the problem of viruses and > bad web-links and act accordingly - and not design new systems that are > ambiguous as to their veracity - as if they're living in a world of their > own where it is assumed everyone else will know what they're doing is > genuine, when they're actually making themselves look like spammers. > > Best regards > > Clive > Tel/Fax: 020 7987 8820 > www.secret-bottletop.com > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Allan & Liz" <Alliz55@tpg.com.au> > To: <powys@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, July 13, 2012 1:47 AM > Subject: Re: [POWYS] online parish registers > > >> Hi David and Steve >> >> The problem is spammers also use this system. For safety reasons no one >> should open links that they can't relate to. >> >> It could be linked to a site that could down load dangerous content. >> >> By using and making people think that these short cuts are safe can lead >> to their computer being violated and in the worst case they may loose >> all of their data. >> >> I am an IT Manager and no one in out company is allowed to open links >> they don't know. Our systems will block the site from opening anyway. >> >> Regards >> Allan >> >> On 13/07/2012 10:31 AM, David wrote: >>> It's a "short link", typically used to make long links short, >>> particularly for forums, emails, mailing lists etc. where they may get >>> truncated and not work. >>> >>> See: >>> >>> http://goo.gl/ >>> >>> >>> and others. >>> >>> On Fri, 2012-07-13 at 10:04 +1000, Allan & Liz wrote: >>>> Hi Steve >>>> >>>> That's what spam websites look like, so its a dangerous habit to use >>>> shortcuts that look like tht. It's better just to present the real web >>>> site then there's not confusion. >>>> I get junk emails regularly that look like that, so I just delete them >>>> for safety. >>>> >>>> Allan >>>> >>>> On 13/07/2012 9:35 AM, Steve Williams wrote: >>>>> No, it is not a SPAM address. It is a short-cut link to a >>>>> http://www.findmypast.co.uk page. When you examine the text around the >>>>> link, you will discover that it is legitimate. A Spammer will not >>>>> bother >>>>> to obtain that kind of detailed or specific information. >>>>> >>>>> Steve >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: powys-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:powys-bounces@rootsweb.com] On >>>>> Behalf Of Allan & Liz >>>>> Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2012 4:19 PM >>>>> To: powys@rootsweb.com >>>>> Subject: Re: [POWYS] online parish registers >>>>> Importance: High >>>>> >>>>> All Members >>>>> >>>>> The web site below looks like a SPAM web address - please don't open >>>>> >>>>> Allan >>>>> >>>>> On 13/07/2012 4:05 AM, David wrote: >>>>>> Many Welsh PRs have just been added on-line (index and original >>>>>> image): >>>>>> >>>>>> http://tidd.ly/958288d3 >>>>>> >>>>>> See the lists for coverage, though note there may be some gaps in the >>>>>> years. >>>>>> >>>>>> Glascwm & Colfa are both on there. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> David >>>>>> >>>>>> On Thu, 2012-07-12 at 16:50 +0100, DAVID JONES wrote: >>>>>>> Could any one advise if I can find parish registers on line for St >>>>>>> Davids COLVA/COLFA & Glascwm/Glascombe Please =================== >>>>>>> Visit the Powys Mailing List webpage at: >>>>>>> www.jlb2011.co.uk/powyslist.htm >>>>>>> >>>>>>> ------------------------------- >>>>>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>>>>> POWYS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >>>>>>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>>>>> =================== >>>>>> Visit the Powys Mailing List webpage at: >>>>>> www.jlb2011.co.uk/powyslist.htm >>>>>> >>>>>> ------------------------------- >>>>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>>>> POWYS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >>>>>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> =================== >>>>> Visit the Powys Mailing List webpage at: >>>>> www.jlb2011.co.uk/powyslist.htm >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------- >>>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>>> POWYS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >>>>> quotes >>>>> in the subject and the body of the message >>>>> >>>>> =================== >>>>> Visit the Powys Mailing List webpage at: >>>>> www.jlb2011.co.uk/powyslist.htm >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------- >>>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>>> POWYS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >>>>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>>>> >>>>> >>>> =================== >>>> Visit the Powys Mailing List webpage at: www.jlb2011.co.uk/powyslist.htm >>>> >>>> ------------------------------- >>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>> POWYS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >>>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>> =================== >>> Visit the Powys Mailing List webpage at: www.jlb2011.co.uk/powyslist.htm >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> POWYS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes >>> in the subject and the body of the message >>> >>> >> >> =================== >> Visit the Powys Mailing List webpage at: www.jlb2011.co.uk/powyslist.htm >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> POWYS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes >> in the subject and the body of the message > =================== > Visit the Powys Mailing List webpage at: www.jlb2011.co.uk/powyslist.htm > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to POWYS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >