What is ClearURLs?
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Add-on summary
This extension will automatically remove tracking elements from URLs to help protect your privacy when browsing through the Internet.
Many websites use tracking elements in the URL (e.g. https://example.com?utm_source=newsletter1&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sale) to mark your online activity. All that tracking code is not necessary for a website to be displayed or work correctly and can therefore be removed—that is exactly what ClearURLs does.
Another common example are Amazon URLs. If you search for a product on Amazon you will see a very long URL, such as https://www.amazon.com/dp/exampleProduct/ref=sxin_0_pb?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&keywords=tea&pd_rd_i=exampleProduct&pd_rd_r=8d39e4cd-1e4f-43db-b6e7-72e969a84aa5&pd_rd_w=1pcKM&pd_rd_wg=hYrNl&pf_rd_p=50bbfd25-5ef7-41a2-68d6-74d854b30e30&pf_rd_r=0GMWD0YYKA7XFGX55ADP&qid=1517757263&rnid=2914120011
Indeed most of the above URL is tracking code. Once ClearURLs has cleaned the address, it will look like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/exampleProduct
Why use this extension as opposed to similar ones? Most other “link cleaners” employ about a dozen rules when looking for tracking parameters to remove. ClearURLs utilizes over 250 rules, so its capabilities are more comprehensive. And ClearURLs is open source, so everyone can join the project and/or can check the source code to error or malicious code.
All functions in a nutshell
- Removes tracking from URLs automatically in the background
User reviews
- Effective at removing tracking URLs.
- Improves privacy and data protection.
- Very useful add-on for daily tasks.
- Lacks whitelisting capability, requiring users to disable it for certain sites.
- Breaks functionality on multiple websites, causing issues.
- Incompatibility with specific features on popular sites like Google Play Books and eBay.
- No whitelisting feature.
- Disables functionality on some websites.
- Useful for maintaining privacy.
Recent reviews
Add-on safety
Risk impact
ClearURLs is risky to use as it requires a number of sensitive permissions that can potentially harm your browser and steal your data. Exercise caution when installing this add-on. Review carefully before installing. We recommend that you only install ClearURLs if you trust the publisher.
Risk likelihood
ClearURLs has earned a fairly good reputation and likely can be trusted.
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