Remove Redirects

Description

This web-extension removes redirect from links,
Without actually resolving them by browsing the URL-address,
but by heuristically decoding the real URL-address that is hidden in and around the link itself.

Redirect-servers are bad!
Not only you waste time waiting for the 'chain of servers' to resolve the request,
a lot of private information (regarding where you've come-from and cookies) will pass through
to the 3'rd party server.

And cannot always be aware of that you are passing through a redirect-server.
Take the Google-search page -
When you hover a link you'll get a title of the real URL,
But when you click it, a ONMOUSEDOWN event quickly changes the real-target
To https://www.google.com/url?url=https%3A%2F%2F.... Without you notice anything but a little white-screen for few seconds. You were not aware of it, but you've just walked-through a redirect-server.

This trick keeps repeating in various ways, used by many ad-based companies,
Most commonly the ones that provide that 'you might also interested in...' and 'you might also like...' sections at the end of a mediocre article from around the web.

This web-extension will save you time (1-2 seconds of an accumulate wasted-time for each redirect-server you walk-through x times days x months x years...) and protect your privacy by directing you the real URL-address you've wished to visit and it does so 'offline',
Meaning, if the redirect server is an adware/malware/pop-up'ware you'll be kept safe, and your click-data and IP-address will never register there (because you've never visit it there). Nice.

Note that it still might break websites,
I personally use it all the time - but if you've noticed anything,
Contact me so I'll fix it.

If you want another protection-related web-extension, that can seriously block all pop-ups, you can try https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/pop-ups-fu/

I've basically made this web-extension for myself, and then decided to share it with everyone, because sharing is caring. it's nothing fancy but it is small, quick and it works. If you've enjoyed using it I'll be thrilled to hear all about it in the review section.

Remove-Redirects is 100% free (as beer..), include no ads (I hate those!), does NOT collect any data, include NO analytics and works entirely offline.