The vast majority of free sites depend on advertising to survive, and you should definitely make an exception for them if you enjoy their content. However, there are portals and services out there that lose control and turn simple links into perverse mazes chaining shorteners, pop-ups, and other nefarious tricks. If you've ever wondered how to skip AdFly and other ad shorteners, this list will help you.
FastForward
FastForward is without a doubt one of the most effective extensions for skipping AdFly and other ad shorteners. Its developers keep it updated, and it uses a set of definitions that allow it to register and adapt to any relevant change in the shorteners it blocks. You'll need to install it manually in Chrome (Google accuses it of skipping paywalls), but Firefox and Microsoft Edge offer it in their official stores.
Universal Bypass
Universal Bypass is technically the predecessor of FastForward. Its original creator decided to end maintenance of Universal Bypass, but I must admit it still works wonderfully. The configuration of both extensions is virtually identical, and beyond the interruption in its development (the last build is from February 2021), I think it would be a mistake not to mention it here. Its situation is the same as FastForward regarding Chrome (it requires manual installation).
AdsBypasser
Same goal, different strategy. AdsBypasser can block the appearance of pop-ups with ads, skip shorteners and ignore countdowns, but it does not solve reCAPTCHAs. The main difference is that AdsBypasser works as a Greasemonkey script, meaning you'll need to add a compatible interpreter to your browser (say, Violentmonkey on Chrome) before you can use it. A bit rougher compared to FastForward, but it works well.
Ads Link Skiper
Ads Link Skiper is compatible with a smaller number of ad shorteners, but its presence in the Chrome store notably simplifies the installation process. Its icon will appear in the browser interface, allowing the user to control at will whether all shorteners should be blocked, or if an exception is needed. It hasn't received updates in over a year, but if you want to give it a try, nothing prevents you from installing it.
Link Expander
If it's just a link and you don't want to modify your browser configuration, you can always try to skip AdFly and other ad shorteners by visiting the Link Expander site. In essence, its job is to decipher the URL hidden by the shortened version and present it to the user. The page registers problems with its HTTPS certificate at the time of writing these lines, and it doesn't work with all shorteners, but we can't ignore its potential either.
How to Skip AdFly and Other Ad Shorteners: In Summary
With the help of these tools, a pinch of patience and another of luck, ad shorteners will become a thing of the past. We hope they are useful to you, and as always, if you notice that we have forgotten some resource worth exploring, leave a comment!
