Google Routes Some Search Results Through Encrypted Redirects, Reducing Link‑Preview Visibility

Google is now sending a portion of its search‑result links through an encoded redirect URL instead of directing users straight to the advertised destination. This rollout, affecting both desktop and mobile browsers, means that clicking a result first passes through a Google‑controlled address before arriving at the final site.

The redirect consists of a lengthy, encoded string that points to a Google domain and then forwards the user onward to the original target. Although Google has employed similar URLs for tracking ad clicks and measuring traffic for years, this latest version conceals the ultimate URL from browsers’ native link‑preview mechanisms.

Today's browsers typically show a preview of a link’s destination when a user hovers over it or looks at the status bar, providing a quick safety check before clicking. With the new redirect in place, those previews now display the Google address rather than the final site, diminishing the usefulness of this visual cue for identifying potentially harmful or deceptive pages.

Google explains that the change is intended to fight malicious advertising and unsafe search results that have troubled the platform in recent years. By channeling traffic through a controlled redirect, the company can more effectively apply automated safety filters and block known bad actors before the user reaches the offending site.

The shift follows a broader trend of heightened scrutiny over ad fraud and phishing schemes that exploit search results as a delivery method. Security researchers note that while redirects can aid detection, they also create a trade‑off: users lose an immediate visual indication of where a link leads, potentially increasing reliance on the browser’s built‑in security warnings.

Experts advise users to consider alternative tactics, such as copying URLs into a safe‑checking service or installing extensions that expand shortened or redirected links. Google has not said whether the redirect will eventually cover all results or stay limited to those flagged as higher risk. The rollout will likely be watched closely by the security community and privacy advocates as the balance between protection and transparency continues to evolve.