How to Remove Redirection to prevent click tracking while using Google Search

While performing searches across Google Search, you must have noticed a web link shown in the browser’s status bar when hovering the cursor over any particular search result (Title in blue color). However, on copying the same link from Google search engine results page (SERP), the output URL turns into a massive weird link. The same output URL can also be seen for a short moment in status bar as you open a search result. The output URL being referred here is basically the redirection link that Google uses to tracks your clicks, in order to analyze the stats and later optimize their search results.

Comparing the links:

Before (Output URL):

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=happy%204th%20birthday%2C%20webtrickz&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwebtrickz.com%2Fhappy-4th-birthday-webtrickz%2F&ei=L6xYUKDNF4jprAezhoHgDw&usg=AFQjCNGh8o3k5ZtyrRJKaEx3cItsVutDUQ

After:

Apparently, the before link above clears that Google redirects the search result through ? and opens the actual site link after a delay of around 3 seconds. If you’re concerned about your privacy and want to prevent click tracking, then there is an easy way to remove Google Redirects using an extension or add-on. Certainly, this will also improve the loading time when opening results link in Google SERPs as they are no longer passed to Google for redirection.

Undirect (Google Chrome extension) –

Undirect can fix these things! Google search results will no longer do any redirecting – go straight to the site you want, first time! Supports using google over both HTTP and HTTPS.

Remove google search redirects (Firefox Add-on) –

Simply removes tracking code/redirect from Google Search results.

This trick also comes handy for users who often copy-paste links from search results. Now, you don’t need to wait for the actual page to load to grab its link. Just right-click the result link in SERP and copy link address. 🙂