Getting clean links from google search results

Tech Support
1

Has anyone found a way to easily get clean links from Google search results?

I’m not sure when it started, but copying a link from a search results page results in a link full of data exhaust. Instead of copying straight from the results page, I’ve taken to opening the desired page, waiting for it to load, and then copying the link from there. But this is actually quite a bit more frustrating than the old right-click/long-press → copy.

I’d love to have a better way on both iOS and macOS. Or maybe it’s time I switched to a different search provider…

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Looks like you can switch browsers or search engines.

Google

Brave

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-watch-device-accessories/apple-watch-series-4-gps-plus-cellular/pcmcat1536791221831.c?id=pcmcat1536791221831

Safari

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjVgvGco7vmAhVmmuAKHTaECHoQFjAAegQIAhAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fapple-watch-device-accessories%2Fapple-watch-series-4-gps-plus-cellular%2Fpcmcat1536791221831.c%3Fid%3Dpcmcat1536791221831&usg=AOvVaw3p9qK3f_IQFgP2VGX3JfU9

Duckduckgo

Brave

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-watch-device-accessories/apple-watch-series-4-gps-plus-cellular/pcmcat1536791221831.c?id=pcmcat1536791221831

Safari

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-watch-device-accessories/apple-watch-series-4-gps-plus-cellular/pcmcat1536791221831.c?id=pcmcat1536791221831

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I use the Don’t Track Me Google extension in Brave/Chrome/etc:

735AFDDF-AA95-4DBC-99FA-FD773BBCD43B
735AFDDF-AA95-4DBC-99FA-FD773BBCD43B1146×706 136 KB

Also see:

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I’m sure it’s not a problem, but Brave has that built in. It’s one of its selling points.

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On iOS, use DuckDuckGo.

On Mac / Safari, StopTheMadness will do that, amongst other things:

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You’re right. I don’t have it installed in Brave but I do in Chrome.

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Thanks folks. I should’ve mentioned I’m constrained to Safari, though hopefully those tips for Chrome help someone else.

I’m going to try DuckDuckGo for a while. I’m even more inspired to escape Google after the news that ad and organic results now basically look identical on the “don’t be evil” search engine:

As a HUGE BONUS, though, DuckDuckGo has also restored my favourite Chrome feature. I lost the ability to do an automatic “I’m Feeling Lucky” search when I left Chrome (Safari doesn’t support of keyword-based custom search engines). Turns out DuckDuckGo offers a search syntax for that. Amazing!

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Sadly I couldn’t stand DuckDuckGo’s performance. I’ve switched back to Google on all devices and started using StopTheMadness as @tjluoma suggested.

I wonder if there are any “get the real link” Shortcuts for iOS?

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Don’t know about iOS but I use one of several available extensions for Chrome in Brave/Chrome.

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