Bitly: Difference between revisions
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|Website=https://bitly.com/|Founded=2008|ParentCompany=Spectrum Equity|Type=Private}} | |Website=https://bitly.com/|Founded=2008|ParentCompany=Spectrum Equity|Type=Private}} | ||
Bitly is a | '''[[wikipedia:Bitly|Bitly]]''' is a link management platform, offering url shortening and QR code generator services. '''Bitly, Inc.''' is a private technology company founded in 2008. | ||
==Consumer-impact summary== | ==Consumer-impact summary== | ||
'''User Privacy:''' Users account credentails was compromised in a data breach. | |||
'''Business Model:''' QR codes marketed as "free" on [https://www.qr-code-generator.com/ qr-code-generator.com] later stop working unless a subscription is purchased, resulting in wasted marketing materials and unexpected costs. | |||
==Incidents== | ==Incidents== | ||
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]]. | This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]]. | ||
=== Data Breach (2014-05-08) === | |||
The company suffered from a data breach in May of 2014, resulting in 9.3 million of users' access credentials to be compromised.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-05-09 |title=Bitly link-shortening service 'compromised' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-27340494 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-06 |title=Bitly |url=https://haveibeenpwned.com/breach/Bitly |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=haveibeenpwned.com}}</ref> The CEO Mark Josephson then published a blog post explaining the issue and providing the appropriate safety measures.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Josephson |first=Mark |date=2014-05-08 |title=Urgent Security Update Regarding Your Bitly Account |url=http://blog.bitly.com/post/85169217199/urgent-security-update-regarding-your-bitly-account |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509101322/http://blog.bitly.com/post/85169217199/urgent-security-update-regarding-your-bitly-account |archive-date=2014-05-09 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Bitly}}</ref> | |||
===QR-Code-Generator.com “free” QR code lockout (2025-07-30)=== | ===QR-Code-Generator.com “free” QR code lockout (2025-07-30)=== | ||
{{Main|QR-Code-Generator.com “free” QR code lockout}} | {{Main|QR-Code-Generator.com “free” QR code lockout}} | ||
Bitly’s qr-code-generator.com advertises “free” QR codes but later disables them unless users pay, breaking printed materials and creating hidden costs for businesses. | Bitly’s qr-code-generator.com advertises “free” QR codes but later disables them unless users pay, breaking printed materials and creating hidden costs for businesses.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Jun 2024 |title=How can I reactivate my QR Codes? |url=https://support.qr-code-generator.com/hc/en-us/articles/7665090677005-How-can-I-reactivate-my-QR-Codes#:~:text=Your%20QR%20Codes%20may%20be,more%20of%20your%20QR%20Codes |access-date=15 Aug 2025 |website=QR Code Generator Support}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 Jun 2025 |title=I received a message saying that my QR Codes will be deactivated. What does that mean? |url=https://support.qr-code-generator.com/hc/en-us/articles/7665013224205-I-received-a-message-saying-that-my-QR-Codes-will-be-deactivated-What-does-that-mean#:~:text=Any%20Dynamic%20QR%20Codes%20you,QR%20codes%20or%20vice%20versa. |access-date=15 Aug 2025 |website=QR Code Generator Support}}</ref> | ||
==Products== | ==Products== | ||
Latest revision as of 17:47, 16 August 2025
Bitly
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 |
| Legal Structure | Private |
| Industry | Software, Information Technology, Technology |
| Official website | https://bitly.com/ |
Bitly is a link management platform, offering url shortening and QR code generator services. Bitly, Inc. is a private technology company founded in 2008.
Consumer-impact summary[edit | edit source]
User Privacy: Users account credentails was compromised in a data breach.
Business Model: QR codes marketed as "free" on qr-code-generator.com later stop working unless a subscription is purchased, resulting in wasted marketing materials and unexpected costs.
Incidents[edit | edit source]
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the Bitly category.
Data Breach (2014-05-08)[edit | edit source]
The company suffered from a data breach in May of 2014, resulting in 9.3 million of users' access credentials to be compromised.[1][2] The CEO Mark Josephson then published a blog post explaining the issue and providing the appropriate safety measures.[3]
QR-Code-Generator.com “free” QR code lockout (2025-07-30)[edit | edit source]
- Main article: QR-Code-Generator.com “free” QR code lockout
Bitly’s qr-code-generator.com advertises “free” QR codes but later disables them unless users pay, breaking printed materials and creating hidden costs for businesses.[4][5]
Products[edit | edit source]
- Bitly Link Management Platform
- QR-Code-Generator.com
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Bitly link-shortening service 'compromised'". BBC. 2014-05-09. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ↑ "Bitly". haveibeenpwned.com. 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ↑ Josephson, Mark (2014-05-08). "Urgent Security Update Regarding Your Bitly Account". Bitly. Archived from the original on 2014-05-09. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- ↑ "How can I reactivate my QR Codes?". QR Code Generator Support. 20 Jun 2024. Retrieved 15 Aug 2025.
- ↑ "I received a message saying that my QR Codes will be deactivated. What does that mean?". QR Code Generator Support. 11 Jun 2025. Retrieved 15 Aug 2025.