status problem/status bar in firefox, opera, ie

The link looks like http://download.com# in the status bar of firefox, but it really is #%2%2 ect and then a url after words.. In opera you will see the %2%2%2 but the screen is not big enough to see all the text. even in the tooltip. sorry i wasted my time just wondering if this could be a problem, more than visual but security?

test url

 

hi, it's an obfuscated URL, you can decipher them with Karen's Discombobulator. these kind of addresses are used by people like spammers to hide the real location of the link, or to fool people into thinking they are going somewhere else. you can also use this page to put the url in to find where it goes.

where are you finding these addresses?

it really is a great subject to learn about. here are some pages you can, and should, read...
http://www.pc-help.org/obscure.htm
http://www.rain.org/~mkummel/stumpers/08dec00a.html

i just remembered you can read abit more about it if you click on the links with dates at the URL Discombobulator page
http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptlookup.asp
these links -
April 10, 2000
April 17, 2000
April 24, 2000
May 1, 2000
May 8, 2000
etc etc