URL Tracking Parameters: Hidden Surveillance Undermining Web Security and Trust

Let’s examine a common practice that’s making the web less secure and less transparent. Consider these two versions of the same URL:

What you see before clicking:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kevin-sherard-policemedic_beyond-blessed-and-grateful-to-work-for-a-activity-7259339455067508737-uISS

What you actually get:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kevin-sherard-policemedic_beyond-blessed-and-grateful-to-work-for-a-activity-7259339455067508737-uISS?utm_source=social_share_video_v2&utm_medium=android_app&utm_campaign=copy_link

This bait-and-switch tactic represents everything wrong with modern web tracking practices.

The Deception of Hidden Tracking Parameters

1. Circumventing Privacy Regulations

Many companies are now using URL parameters as a sneaky way to bypass:

Cookie consent requirements
Privacy notification regulations
User tracking opt-out preferences

By hiding tracking parameters in shortened URLs or behind redirects, companies are essentially saying: “We’ll track you whether you like it or not.”

2. The Hidden URL Problem

What’s Happening	Why It’s Problematic
Links appear clean and simple	Users can’t make informed decisions about clicking
Parameters reveal themselves after clicking	No way to verify destination before committing
Multiple redirects occur silently	Each redirect is an opportunity for manipulation
Tracking begins before user awareness	Consent is completely bypassed

3. Security Implications

These practices create serious security vulnerabilities:

Users cannot verify true destinations
Malicious actors can hide attack URLs similarly
Redirect chains increase attack surface
Authentication becomes more complicated
Link legitimacy becomes harder to verify

The False Arguments for Tracking Parameters

“We Need This Data”

Companies claim they need this tracking for:

Marketing attribution
User behavior analysis
Campaign effectiveness

Reality: This data collection often violates:

User privacy expectations
Transparent business practices
Basic web security principles

“It Improves User Experience”

Claims vs. Reality:

Claim: “We personalize based on source”
- Reality: Creates inconsistent, unreliable URLs
Claim: “Helps us serve you better”
- Reality: Serves marketing departments, not users
Claim: “Industry standard practice”
- Reality: A race to the bottom for user privacy

The Real Costs

1. Trust Erosion

Users learn their clicks are secretly monitored
Destination URLs differ from what’s displayed
No transparency about data collection
Creates adversarial relationship with users

2. Security Degradation

Complicates threat assessment
Makes phishing easier
Increases attack surface
Undermines URL verification

3. Web Infrastructure Impact

Bloated URLs
Unnecessary redirects
Complicated caching
Reduced performance

A Call for Honest Web Practices

What Should Companies Do?

Stop the Deception:
- No more hidden parameters
- No tracking without consent
- No redirect chains
Embrace Transparency:
- Show full URLs upfront
- Make tracking obvious if used
- Respect user privacy choices
Prioritize Security:
- Maintain simple, verifiable URLs
- Eliminate unnecessary redirects
- Focus on user safety over tracking

What Can Users Do?

Be Vigilant:
- Check URLs before clicking
- Use URL preview tools
- Report deceptive practices
Demand Better:
- Support businesses using clean URLs
- Call out tracking practices
- Choose privacy-respecting alternatives

The Path Forward

The web doesn’t need hidden tracking parameters to function. These deceptive practices serve corporate interests at the expense of:

User privacy
Web security
Trust
Performance
Usability

It’s time to reject these surveillance tactics disguised as marketing tools. Companies need to choose between being trusted partners or surveillance operators. They can’t be both.

URL tracking parameters, especially when hidden, represent a fundamental betrayal of web users’ trust. They’re not just a technical nuisance – they’re a deliberate choice to prioritize surveillance over security, tracking over transparency, and corporate interests over user rights.

The solution isn’t to find better ways to track users. It’s to stop treating every click as a data collection opportunity and start treating users with respect. Clean, honest URLs aren’t just a technical choice – they’re an ethical one.

When you see a clean URL transform into a tracking-laden one, remember: that’s not a bug, it’s a deliberate choice to deceive. It’s time we demanded better.

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