URL shorteners are a dime a dozen these days, so launching a new one seems like an exercise in futility. BitDefender thinks it brings enough to the table to warrant a try. The security software maker has launched Saf.li, a URL shortener with a twist, it adds security to the mix of regular features. Any link shortened with Saf.li is scanned for malware and viruses and checked to see if it’s not a phishing scam. This should give anyone clicking on a link from Saf.li peace of mind, knowing that they won’t end up on a malicious site.

“When using saf.li for URL shortening you get the added benefit of antivirus and antiphishing scans, which allow you and your friends to safely share content over the Internet. A saf.li check on your URL means that all those who are going to use it are safe from malware and from personal data theft attempts,” the website reads.

Saf.li is pretty run-of-the-mill as a URL shortener. It makes links smaller, obviously, and provides some basic analytics data to know how many people clicked on those links. Nothing Earth-shattering so far, its claim to fame is that it puts BitDefender’s security tools to work and makes sure that the target site is clean and safe. If any threats are encountered, no short link is issued and the user gets a warning.

Saf.li has the power of the BitDefender brand behind it, but not much else going for it. Its security features may not be standard among URL shorteners, but Saf.li is not the only one out there offering this kind of functionality. In fact, Bit.ly, the most popular URL shortener in the world, has some pretty solid security features and it also scans target links for potential threats.

Still, Saf.li may find a place not necessarily as a dedicated URL shortener, but rather as a service or tool offering security features to existing products. We’ve asked BitDefender for comment and further details and we’ll get back to you with more answers.