unshorten - Expands a short URL & displays the original URL

[hakerdefo]

Short URLs can be a security risk. 'unshorten' is a simple bash script that displays the original link of a short URL. It doesn't depend on any third party service.

Code Select Expand


#!/bin/sh
echo ""
echo "Expands a short url & displays the original url."
echo ""
echo "Enter a short url: "
read input_variable
if long=$(curl -s -o /dev/null --head -w "%{url_effective}\n" -L "$input_variable"); then
echo "Original url -> $long"
else
echo "Sorry! Invalid url!"
fi



Save this script some where in your path with the name 'unshorten' and give it 'Execute' permission. Next time you come across a short URL, Don't blindly click-open it in your Browser or Mail Application, Run 'unshorten' from your terminal and enter the short URL when prompted and 'unshorten' will return the original URL.
More info on 'unshorten' can be found here,
unshorten
Cheers!!!

[VastOne]

^ Very nice hakerdefo!  I have been looking for something just like this letely

I appreciate you sharing it