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Gmail/G Suite now editing URLs in mail message bodies to use Google URL redirect

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Re: Gmail/G Suite now editing URLs in mail message bodies to use Google URL redirect

#11

Post by est31 »

abdullahkhalids wrote: post #7
sneak wrote: post #2

This also breaks GPG clearsigned messages that have URLs in the body, as demonstrated in this message I just sent myself: -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 Hello, please visit my site at https://www.google.com/url?q=https://sneak.berlin&source=gmail-imap&ust=1603637677000000&usg=AOvVaw2HZaWQujRWlDNrZMKZIsed. Best, - -jp -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- iQIzBAEBCAAdFiEEVTmtAN5MQvOv4RV1BSRD9N8qVcIFAl+MVwwACg…

Test messages to myself from Thunderbird and from gmail web interface did not get rewritten. How can I replicate this?

Probably an A/B test for now, so only a limited number of people have this issue.

Re: Gmail/G Suite now editing URLs in mail message bodies to use Google URL redirect

#12

Post by gjvnq »

abdullahkhalids wrote: post #7
sneak wrote: post #2

This also breaks GPG clearsigned messages that have URLs in the body, as demonstrated in this message I just sent myself: -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 Hello, please visit my site at https://www.google.com/url?q=https://sneak.berlin&source=gmail-imap&ust=1603637677000000&usg=AOvVaw2HZaWQujRWlDNrZMKZIsed. Best, - -jp -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- iQIzBAEBCAAdFiEEVTmtAN5MQvOv4RV1BSRD9N8qVcIFAl+MVwwACg…

Test messages to myself from Thunderbird and from gmail web interface did not get rewritten. How can I replicate this?

Maybe you have to write the message in HTML

Re: Gmail/G Suite now editing URLs in mail message bodies to use Google URL redirect

#13

Post by sneak »

oefrha wrote: post #6

Can't reproduce on either Gmail or GSuite, including on webmail (I thought this could be some sort of "you're leaving example.com, do you really want to do that" thing, but nope). The part about IMAP being affected sounds especially suspicious. Knowing op's track record I'd rather hear from some more impartial sources.

My track record? If you're going to accuse me of lying, I'd prefer that you do so overtly and put your own credibility on the line.

https://twitter.com/sneakdotberlin/status/131783835638279782...

It says source=gmail-imap right in the URL. Look.

Re: Gmail/G Suite now editing URLs in mail message bodies to use Google URL redirect

#15

Post by CitrusFruits »

stephc_int13 wrote: post #5

I've planned to quit using Gmail for a long time now. Any tips on how to do it efficiently? I would prefer a native email client coupled to a simple hosting solution.

I moved to fastmail earlier this year. Honestly, it took a full day of updating all my accounts on every site that used my email. It helps to have a password manager to keep track of progress.

Since then it's been pretty good. I keep my old gmail as an additional account on my email client to track things I've missed, but it's been surprisingly little.

Re: Gmail/G Suite now editing URLs in mail message bodies to use Google URL redirect

#16

Post by est31 »

sneak wrote: post #2

This also breaks GPG clearsigned messages that have URLs in the body, as demonstrated in this message I just sent myself: -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 Hello, please visit my site at https://www.google.com/url?q=https://sneak.berlin&source=gmail-imap&ust=1603637677000000&usg=AOvVaw2HZaWQujRWlDNrZMKZIsed. Best, - -jp -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- iQIzBAEBCAAdFiEEVTmtAN5MQvOv4RV1BSRD9N8qVcIFAl+MVwwACg…

Is the Google-provided signature intact at least? IIRC they provide a special header with a signature inside.

Re: Gmail/G Suite now editing URLs in mail message bodies to use Google URL redirect

#18

Post by lern_too_spel »

ISL wrote: post #14

Is there a reason that this would ever make sense for the end-user? If I click on a link, my browser opens it. Done, right?

Presumably to hide Gmail as the referer on browsers that don't support it. It doesn't make sense in the IMAP case.

https://caniuse.com/referrer-policy

Re: Gmail/G Suite now editing URLs in mail message bodies to use Google URL redirect

#19

Post by genocidicbunny »

ISL wrote: post #14

Is there a reason that this would ever make sense for the end-user? If I click on a link, my browser opens it. Done, right?

It makes sense if you remember that ads, not gmail, are Google's main business.

Re: Gmail/G Suite now editing URLs in mail message bodies to use Google URL redirect

#20

Post by oefrha »

sneak wrote: post #13
oefrha wrote: post #6

Can't reproduce on either Gmail or GSuite, including on webmail (I thought this could be some sort of "you're leaving example.com, do you really want to do that" thing, but nope). The part about IMAP being affected sounds especially suspicious. Knowing op's track record I'd rather hear from some more impartial sources.

My track record? If you're going to accuse me of lying, I'd prefer that you do so overtly and put your own credibility on the line. https://twitter.com/sneakdotberlin/status/131783835638279782... It says source=gmail-imap right in the URL. Look.

Sorry, you have a history of making wild accusations like this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21109530
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