When you post a link, PLEASE remove the "?" and the trackers that follow it.
Random example; I picked this link from Fakebook. You can see that it's from Fakebook because it includes "fbclid".
As well as showing that it's from a Fakebook user, it probably also includes other information about me. (Well, it would if I hadn't changed some characters!)
The link works perfectly well without the trackers:
https://www.quordlepuzzles.com/collections/store-closing
A while ago, someone here posted a link to Reddit. The trackers in the link allowed me to log in to their Reddit account and to post as them! (Naughty me.) So PLEASE don't do it!
Disclaimer: I have no connection with quordlepuzzles. It's just a random link that I picked.
EDIT: Youtube links do need the part with the ? in them. More specifically the watch?v=random characters part. Also might include a jump to a start time as in &time=456s
Thanks to u/metalheadtruth for reminding me!
This is why Brave has a Copy Clean Link option when right-clicking.
I just tested it on your first link. Pasting the result into the address bar, it became an exact copy of your SECOND link.
Yup I saw brave added that recently. Very handy tool.
Everyone should dump google chrome and install Brave Browser. No ads on YouTube EVER. so fucking handy.
https://brave.com/
I only view YouTube on my phone using brave anymore. It is so awesome to have no ads.
So you can use brass browser and it skips all the ads?
I never see ads on YouTube. And in sure it blocks many other ads. I think it's got Ublock Origin in some form built-in. Not sure don't remember as it's been years since I've dealt with ads or ad blockers, since I use Brave.
Whenever i post a link I make sure that I delete all up until and including the ?....I'm not sure who told me that a few years ago...👌😎
There are many of us that catch it & remind others. When you see others do it, comment on erasing it to help teach them.
Okay you are awesome! I came here to say exactly this after reading the post, but didn't have to because you already said it!
Been using Brave for several years now and it's easily my favorite browser of all time. And this is coming from someone who works in IT, is on the computer practically all day ever day, and has used like a dozen different browsers.
Some firefox addons do this as well
I just posted this with a clean copy. I will start doing cleaning the IP address. https://www.wtoc.com/2023/08/23/person-sentenced-10-years-deliberately-driving-through-rincon-parade/
Wow, that's a colossal security risk!!!!!! I knew nothing about trackers in links.
Thanks for sharing! Good to know!!!
I did NOT know that. We live at a strange time!
wait, how did you get his reddit password from a link?!
Beats me. When I clicked the link with trackers it logged me into Reddit with his username!
That is hilarious!
When using twitter change twitter.com to nitter.net
When pasting Youtube remove tracking and change YouTube.com to yewtu.be
I Agree, That's why I always provide both links...
Sounds like good advice.
Firefox (at least Nightly) has CopyWithoutSiteTracking.
Be aware this is not completely correct. Youtube links do need the part with the ? in them. More specifically the watch?v=random characters part. You remove that the link is dead and just links back to the youtube homepage. The clean link from Brave strips it properly. Don't use SorosFox so no idea on it.
Very true. Also might include a jump to a start time as in &time=456s
Yes exactly.
Well now, I would love to learn that hack using the unique ID.
Well said fren. This is a fantastic PSA.
fbclid is Facebook Click ID for marketing tracking purposes for anyone curious.
Keep your data safe with clean links.
Aww man.wish I knew this
Now you know, & knowing it half the battle.
Good tip.
Wow…. Thanks for this info.
Very much this.
What to do if the link does not work after we delete the tracker?
Excellent question! That will happen occasionally. If you can't delete at least part of the tracker without breaking the link, then please go to www.archive.is and make an archive. Then use that link (from the address line).
I'm not clear on what "doesn't work". Could you please elucidate? What error message do you see when you copy-paste the link into www.archive.is ?
I have found using different browsers or alt VPN locations have worked from time to time. Though that may not resolve the DNS. It has been over a de ade since I was working those areas.
Try using "Epic" browser. I find that it allows me to read RT News when other browsers won't.
Sound like one worth looking at. Who made it & is it open source?
That I didn't know, although I am not as computer literate as some of the folks on this site-thanks for the information.
Interesting! I had no clue they did that. I am not surprised. Mark had a long history of breaking laws and tracking people.
Yes, I won't click on links with all that business with the question mark++ included.
You see… people do care! A lot!
To be able to login just from URL is just bad security implementation on destination site. They should be using local cookies, in combination with URL parameters as well as server side session variables to track the user login.
Generally there is no harm to use entire URL, at least not for posters. Most of the trackers only affect server side stats since trackers are added by the OP (the real original) to track clicks. Also, significant portion of the URL parameters are not trackers. Many times, they are control variables on how the page should display the content (could have search string, page format, page number or range, video start time, etc.), so removing them could mess up the page display and audience won't get the same result as OP. Best would be to test the "clean" link on a private window before posting it.
When I post, I do remove all the UTM tags, as they are used for the stats by Google analytics - only because I am aware of these.
Agreed, although I don't want a mobile phone type display on my 21" monitor if a tracker is telling the site to do that! (I don't think it does.)
Something small that you can do to significantly improve the quality of your posts.... High quality high effort is the way to pepe's heart.
I am aware of this, but thanq for this reminder to us all...
Trackers don't allow you to hack an account. both the public and private key needs to be in your possession.. I agree that people should remove trackers but don't fear monger.
I can only repeat that I was able to log in to someone else's Reddit account. Don't ask me how.
That could only mean that someone who has access to your device has previously logged in to that account.
I know how knowledgeable you are - you helped me in the past - (thanks) and I have no idea how it happened. (Nobody has access to my computers but me).
This is concerning hmm
Hacking an old Mac Pro isn't trivial.
Thank you for sharing this information.
Duly noted