Frequently asked questions

A short link is a short address like ci8.de/k7m3xa that instantly redirects to a long address when opened. Short links fit into messages, posters and QR codes and are easy to type.

Yes. Shortening is free and needs no sign-up. ci8.de is funded by unobtrusive, labelled ads and voluntary support.

Permanently. Short links have no expiry date. We only delete them when they are abused, for example for phishing or malware.

Yes. After shortening you get an edit link. With it you can change the target or delete the short link. Keep it safe: it is shown only once, and without it we cannot change the link for you.

No. Every short link gets six random characters. Easily confused characters such as 0 and O or 1, l and i are left out, so the link is easy to type correctly.

Regular web addresses with http:// or https:// are allowed. Not possible are addresses in local networks, links to other short link services or to ci8.de itself, and pages known for malware or phishing.

Yes. To prevent abuse you can shorten a few links per minute and a limited number per day. That is plenty for normal use.

We check every target for known malware and phishing when shortening. We review reported links and, if needed, show a warning page before the redirect. Still, only open short links from sources you trust.

We count visits anonymously, for example by country and device type, to detect abuse. No profiles are built, and there are no public statistics per link.

When you shorten, we only store the target address and the time. Your IP address is only used as a daily changing, non-reversible hash for the limits. There are no accounts. Details are in the privacy policy.

Via the report form under "Report abuse" or by email. We review every report and usually remove abusive links within one working day.

Yes, especially well. Short addresses make simpler QR codes that scan reliably even when printed small. And with the edit link you can change the target without reprinting the QR code.