I wish more people clean URLs before sharing it to others. - Lemmy
lemmy.ml
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I see a lot of people, including friends and family, sharing URLs rife with tracking parameters. I feel alone in making sure that I’m sharing the cleanest possible URLs to others. For example, checking if the URLs are shortened to hide plenty of tracking params. Just need to vent, thanks for reading. Edit: adding some context for future references. By using url tracking params, tech companies can track who shares the content and who clicks on that specific shared urls. A simple but effective tracking method. Try sharing Instagram post or YouTube video from the apps. Instagram adds ‘igshid=’ . YouTube adds ‘si=’. If you share the same IG or YouTube content from different accounts. The ‘igshid’, ‘si’ value will be different. This can be used to tag who shares it, and who clicks on that specific url param value. TikTok hides a ton of such params behind shortened url. Try expanding tiktok shared urls. If you use android, use this app to expand, analyze and clean up urls https://github.com/TrianguloY/UrlChecker [https://github.com/TrianguloY/UrlChecker] If you use Firefox (you should), install ublock origin and add this url tracking filter maintained by adguard: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AdguardTeam/FiltersRegistry/master/filters/filter_17_TrackParam/filter.txt [https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AdguardTeam/FiltersRegistry/master/filters/filter_17_TrackParam/filter.txt]

I see a lot of people, including friends and family, sharing URLs rife with tracking parameters.

I feel alone in making sure that I’m sharing the cleanest possible URLs to others. For example, checking if the URLs are shortened to hide plenty of tracking params.

Just need to vent, thanks for reading.

Edit: adding some context for future references.

By using url tracking params, tech companies can track who shares the content and who clicks on that specific shared urls. A simple but effective tracking method.

Try sharing Instagram post or YouTube video from the apps.

Instagram adds ‘igshid=’ . YouTube adds ‘si=’.

If you share the same IG or YouTube content from different accounts. The ‘igshid’, ‘si’ value will be different.

This can be used to tag who shares it, and who clicks on that specific url param value.

TikTok hides a ton of such params behind shortened url. Try expanding tiktok shared urls.

If you use android, use this app to expand, analyze and clean up urls https://github.com/TrianguloY/UrlChecker

If you use Firefox (you should), install ublock origin and add this url tracking filter maintained by adguard: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AdguardTeam/FiltersRegistry/master/filters/filter_17_TrackParam/filter.txt

@narwhal@lemmy.ml
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-171Y

Because I don’t expect the target audience to be here in /c/privacy

You don’t think anyone is here to learn how to be more private on the Internet? You just expect everyone to already know everything

@narwhal@lemmy.ml
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51Y

Look, the point is that I’ve tried explaining it to friends and family and whoever want (and don’t want) to listen.

This post is a rant / wishful thinking as stated as being so, I’m not in the mood of explaining everything again. I’ve done that in my personal blog, etc.

You’re good, no worries. You created a lot of dialog, and most of it is helpful. I’m not complaining.

@narwhal@lemmy.ml
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41Y

Thanks. Looking back, maybe I should’ve at least explained about it a little more. At the time I just wanted to blow off some steam.

I could have worded my response better myself.
I’m looking forward to your next rant, tbh

Well, that’s plain ignorant. But you do you.

deleted by creator

Rants are rants, that’s fine imo

@narwhal@lemmy.ml
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21Y

How so? This is a rant post, I’m not trying to present it differently.

@narwhal@lemmy.ml
creator
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11Y

No but that’s what the comments are for. I share if the discussion is relevant.

Don’t worry mate. I’ve never heard the term but I knew exactly what you meant. I cleaned a url earlier today for Lemmy.

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A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

Some Rules

  • Posting a link to a website containing tracking isn’t great, if contents of the website are behind a paywall maybe copy them into the post
  • Don’t promote proprietary software
  • Try to keep things on topic
  • If you have a question, please try searching for previous discussions, maybe it has already been answered
  • Reposts are fine, but should have at least a couple of weeks in between so that the post can reach a new audience
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