Google search redirects

TidBITS Talk
1

Google Chrome has lost the ability to let me (as used to be the case) copy and paste the long “redirect” URL from Google search results. In other words, I want to be able to copy and paste this search result URL …

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwjezYOC9uzmAhWaKM0KHdYVBIIQFjAAegQICBAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.meyersonstrategy.com%2F&usg=AOvVaw1ethpE5m-njBZWmll3cl1y

… instead of the original URL to which it points: https://www.meyersonstrategy.com/

I can do that in Opera, but I can’t find a way to do it in my main browser, Chrome—and it’s a pain to use two browsers.

Any tips?

2

Can you provide the steps you’re following? I can’t quite figure out where you’re trying to copy the URL from such that you’re getting the wrong thing.

3

When I search for something in Google—let’s say, “Trump”— I get a results page like this:

image
image673×583 154 KB

If I want to give people with whom I’m sharing an item a fighting chance not to run into a paywall (like the Washington Post’s), I can right-click that link in Safari (for instance) and get a Google redirect link:

image

… like this: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwidnYHLi_DmAhVCXc0KHU4_DnMQFjAAegQIBxAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2F2020%2F01%2F06%2Fhow-would-far-right-react-trump-loss-heres-glimpse%2F&usg=AOvVaw1SKURVD7DgqVr4nbSp3Z25

But that functionality has disappeared from Chrome, and I get only the straight WaPo link:

Seems like there ought to be a way to toggle that behavior, but I’ve found nothing.

Thanks, Adam!

4

Ah, I understand now. Normally, I’d think it would be better to get the unadulterated link, but if you’re trying to get past paywalls, the adulterated link is better.

I see what you’re saying, but I have to assume it’s intentional behavior on Google’s part and the only solution would be to use Safari or another browser that doesn’t do that.

5

“Adulterated” is a great term. Thanks again.