This is a basic guide to removing URL parameters using uBlock Origin by creating static filter rules.
Q: What are URL parameters?
A: They are parameters with values appended after the URL, usually for analytic and tracking purposes.
Example (everything past the TLD and subsequent forward slash):
https://www.example.com/?mtm_campaign=status_update&mtm_source=organic&mtm_medium=forum&mtm_content=f-introducing-the-librem-11-
Install uBlock Origin on a compatible browser, such as Firefox ESR. The rest of this guide will assume you are doing exactly this.
-
Go to
about:addons, and access the preferences of uBlock Origin. -
Access the “My Filters” tab, and in the text box, add static filter rules, such as these examples:
*$removeparam=mtm_campaign
*$removeparam=mtm_keyword
*$removeparam=mtm_source
*$removeparam=mtm_medium
*$removeparam=mtm_content
*$removeparam=mtm_cid
*$removeparam=mtm_group
*$removeparam=mtm_placement
- Test your settings against a real URL, like this one (courtesy of @david.hamner):
After accessing it with these static filter rules, the URL should be free of Matomo Campaign Tracking URL parameters.
If you want to continue testing on more websites that track you more aggressively, I suggest moving to Rob Braxman’s website next, who claims to be committed to perserving your privacy.
Here are my static filter rules for Rob Braxman. Note that adding additional static filter rules after this may break their store:
*$removeparam=handle
*$removeparam=i
*$removeparam=lang
*$removeparam=p
*$removeparam=s
*$removeparam=source
*$removeparam=version
A nastier example I have after this is TELUS, a “local” ISP in Western Canada.
Here are my static filter rules for TELUS:
*$removeparam=INTCMP
*$removeparam=intcmp
*$removeparam=linkname
*$removeparam=linktype
*$removeparam=sessionFlow
One last example I will do is eBay, which I personally use often due to guest checkout.
Here are my static filter rules for eBay:
*$removeparam=_from
*$removeparam=_trkparms
*$removeparam=_trksid
*$removeparam=_sacat
*$removeparam=aid
*$removeparam=algo
*$removeparam=algos
*$removeparam=algv
*$removeparam=amdata
*$removeparam=ao
*$removeparam=asc
*$removeparam=brand
*$removeparam=ctx_impID
*$removeparam=ctx_itemIDs
*$removeparam=ctx_pageID
*$removeparam=ctx_plmtID
*$removeparam=ctx_seedIDs
*$removeparam=epid
*$removeparam=fb
*$removeparam=fromPage
*$removeparam=gch
*$removeparam=hash
*$removeparam=homespliceOverrideConfig
*$removeparam=itm
*$removeparam=meid
*$removeparam=noa
*$removeparam=pagename
*$removeparam=pg
*$removeparam=pid
*$removeparam=placement_title
*$removeparam=pmt
*$removeparam=rev
*$removeparam=rk
*$removeparam=rkt
*$removeparam=rypsvc
*$removeparam=sd
*$removeparam=sourceModuleId
*$removeparam=srchCtxt
*$removeparam=var
