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How do I mask the URL that shows up at the bottom left of my screen when I hover my mouse over a lin


Question

Hello. I already know how to mask the URL at the top of the browser. But when I hover my mouse over a link on my website I see the URL of the real domain at the bottom left of the screen. Is there any way to hide that?

12 answers to this question

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The only way is to use Javascript to hijack the click event, or use AJAX to load in new pages. Both have huge downsides to them and it isn't worth the time and effort.

 

downsides include...

 

Links becoming easily broken

Breaking links for non JS users

Having to rewrite your whole site in AJAX

Users not clicking links as, let's face it, they'll look dodgy as hell

 

Do you have a valid reason for not wanting to show it? 

There might be a way to stop browsers showing this by plugin, but that's not an avenue i know any thing about.

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If you are going to that length to hide the url then one has to question what exactly does your site do. even banking websites do not do this and also all of those fake ebay/paypal/your bank/

emails do not put in all that effort to hide the true location of the link that is on screen to the user.

 

it does look like you want to do this for nefarious for reasons.

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  On 02/12/2014 at 09:57, HawkMan said:

He's beings bit un-specific, but I think he simply wants to hide it in his own browser, not on other peoples browsers on his websites.

then iam sure there is a plugin or addon that can disable this feature for him.

as to why he wants to hide the statusbar its shifty :shiftyninja:

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  On 02/12/2014 at 11:39, solutiondots said:

but i am still facing same issue :(

As others have said, we'll need more information to help your further. Are you looking to hide the link in just your browser, or are you looking for the website to hide the link for anyone that views the website?

I would be wary of any site that tries to hide its true URL, but I assume that there could be a legitimate use for such a thing.

Maybe if you were to explain the situation that you have we would be able to offer advice or alternative options.

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  On 02/12/2014 at 11:43, Nick H. said:

 but I assume that there could be a legitimate use for such a thing.

 

 

I really can't come up with any....

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  On 02/12/2014 at 17:06, HawkMan said:

I really can't come up with any....

 

I'm drawing a blank as well. I'd like to know what sort of justification OP may have on the matter.

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Create a URL forward for the link to mask the real URL? (Pranking a friend and don't want them to see the linked url until they click it?)

 

Or maybe buy a domain name for like $5/year, so if your using a free host it won't have a ridiculously long url. (Using free web hosting but want a better url?)

 

I don't know what other reasons you'd want to mask the url, so hopefully one of these helps.

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