TrackerZapper Mac app silently removes tracking parameters from links you copy

#1

Post by dlackty » Sat, Sep 18, 2021, 1:35 PM UTC

TrackerZapper Mac app silently removes tracking parameters from links you copy
github.com

Re: TrackerZapper Mac app silently removes tracking parameters from links you copy

#2

Post by C-x_C-f » Sat, Sep 18, 2021, 2:21 PM UTC

The ClearURLs addon [1] also gives you the in-browser option to copy "clean link location," as they call it.

[1] https://github.com/ClearURLs/Addon

Re: TrackerZapper Mac app silently removes tracking parameters from links you copy

#3

Post by TheKnack » Sat, Sep 18, 2021, 2:46 PM UTC

C-x_C-f wrote: post #2

The ClearURLs addon [1] also gives you the in-browser option to copy "clean link location," as they call it. [1] https://github.com/ClearURLs/Addon

I tried this a while ago but had to turn it off because it made too many links stop working, especially URLs in emails. It also breaks some Google Sheets functionality.

There's a request on Github to add a whitelist for sites that break when referral parameters are removed, but the devs haven't replied or commented on the request.

Re: TrackerZapper Mac app silently removes tracking parameters from links you copy

#4

Post by sneak » Sat, Sep 18, 2021, 3:21 PM UTC

Shame that this couldn't exist on iOS, where I do the majority of copying and pasting of links.

Thanks, Apple.

Re: TrackerZapper Mac app silently removes tracking parameters from links you copy

#5

Post by Wistar » Sat, Sep 18, 2021, 3:44 PM UTC

sneak wrote: post #4

Shame that this couldn't exist on iOS, where I do the majority of copying and pasting of links. Thanks, Apple.

Same here. Editing the links on iOS is bloody difficult.

Re: TrackerZapper Mac app silently removes tracking parameters from links you copy

#6

Post by webwielder2 » Sat, Sep 18, 2021, 4:13 PM UTC

Does it really need to sit in my menubar?

Re: TrackerZapper Mac app silently removes tracking parameters from links you copy

#7

Post by thewebcount » Sat, Sep 18, 2021, 4:14 PM UTC

Can anyone explain how it works? Do I have to paste the link into the app and it opens Safari for me? A single screenshot of the app in action in their ReadMe could clear this up. I don’t understand why so many GitHub projects have this problem.

Re: TrackerZapper Mac app silently removes tracking parameters from links you copy

#8

Post by zinclozenge » Sat, Sep 18, 2021, 4:18 PM UTC

What if I want an app that loudly removes tracking parameters?

Re: TrackerZapper Mac app silently removes tracking parameters from links you copy

#9

Post by Hamuko » Sat, Sep 18, 2021, 4:20 PM UTC

thewebcount wrote: post #7

Can anyone explain how it works? Do I have to paste the link into the app and it opens Safari for me? A single screenshot of the app in action in their ReadMe could clear this up. I don’t understand why so many GitHub projects have this problem.

I think it just listens to changes in your clipboard and if it detects you having copied a link, it removes all tracking parameters and enters that to your clipboard instead.

Re: TrackerZapper Mac app silently removes tracking parameters from links you copy

#10

Post by dangoor » Sat, Sep 18, 2021, 4:20 PM UTC

sneak wrote: post #4

Shame that this couldn't exist on iOS, where I do the majority of copying and pasting of links. Thanks, Apple.

I'm thinking that one way to get something useful along these lines in iOS would be a Shortcut that clears the tracking parameters and puts the result on the clipboard. I think that's possible, and then it's a matter of using the share sheet to get the URL into the Shortcut.

Certainly has a bit more friction than this, but doesn't seem so bad if it could work. This (unfortunately ad-filled) page has an example:

https://ios.gadgethacks.com/how-to/auto-remove-annoying-trac...