URL Redirection Tracker
Follow every redirect hop and reveal the full chain from your input URL to the final destination. Detect phishing redirects and open redirect abuse.
Security Analysis Tools
View All Tools →Track link redirects and reveal the final destination
What is URL Redirection Tracking?
URL redirection tracking is the process of following a shortened or obfuscated URL through its complete redirect chain to reveal the final destination. When you click a link, your browser may be silently redirected through multiple intermediate URLs before landing on the actual target page. Each redirect hop uses an HTTP status code (like 301, 302, or 307) to tell the browser where to go next. Our URL redirection tracker follows every hop and displays the full chain, exposing hidden destinations that may be malicious or unexpected.
Short link services like bit.ly, tinyurl.com, and goo.gl mask the real destination behind a compact URL. Marketing campaigns use tracking redirects to measure click-through rates. Attackers exploit redirect chains to hide phishing sites from spam filters and security scanners. By analyzing the redirect chain before clicking, you can verify whether a link is legitimate or potentially dangerous.
How to Use the URL Redirection Tracker
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1. Enter the URL: Paste the short link or suspicious URL into the input field. Include the full URL starting with http:// or https://.
- 2. Complete reCAPTCHA: Verify you're human by completing the reCAPTCHA challenge that appears below the input field.
- 3. Click Track: Click the Track button to begin following the redirect chain. The tool will make a request to the URL and follow all redirects without executing JavaScript.
- 4. Review Results: The original URL and final destination are displayed at the top. The redirect chain table shows each intermediate hop with its redirect URL and HTTP status code.
- 5. Copy URLs: Use the copy buttons next to each URL to copy specific redirect hops to your clipboard for further investigation.
The tool safely follows redirects without executing any scripts or loading page content, protecting you from drive-by downloads or malicious JavaScript. It records the HTTP status code for each redirect, helping you understand the type of redirect being used (permanent vs. temporary).
Why Track URL Redirects?
Phishing attacks frequently use URL shorteners and redirect chains to hide the real destination from email security filters and user inspection. By masking a malicious URL behind multiple redirects, attackers make it harder for automated scanners to detect the final phishing page. Security professionals use redirect trackers to safely investigate suspicious links reported by users without directly visiting the malicious site.
Common Use Cases
- ✓ Phishing Detection: Identify whether a short link in an email leads to a legitimate site or a credential harvesting page.
- ✓ Malware Investigation: Trace redirect chains used in malware distribution campaigns to find the hosting infrastructure.
- ✓ Affiliate Link Analysis: Understand the full path of affiliate marketing links and track how many redirects occur before the final merchant site.
- ✓ Open Redirect Detection: Discover if a trusted domain is being abused via an open redirect vulnerability to mask malicious destinations.
- ✓ SEO Audits: Verify that 301 permanent redirects are correctly implemented for moved pages to preserve search engine rankings.
Understanding HTTP Redirect Status Codes
301 Moved Permanently
The resource has been permanently moved to a new URL. Search engines transfer ranking signals to the new URL. Users and bots should use the new URL in the future.
302 Found (Temporary Redirect)
The resource is temporarily located at a different URL. The original URL should still be used for future requests. Search engines typically don't transfer ranking signals.
307 Temporary Redirect
Similar to 302, but strictly maintains the HTTP method (POST remains POST). Used when the server wants to ensure method preservation across redirects.
Meta Refresh & JavaScript Redirects
Non-HTTP redirects implemented via HTML meta tags or JavaScript. Often used by attackers to bypass security filters, as they execute in the browser rather than at the HTTP level.
Security Concerns with URL Redirects
Open redirect vulnerabilities occur when a website allows untrusted input to control the destination of a redirect. Attackers exploit these by crafting URLs on trusted domains that redirect to malicious sites. For example: trusted-site.com/redirect?url=evil.com. Because the link starts with a trusted domain, users and security filters may not flag it as suspicious.
URL obfuscation through redirect chains makes forensic analysis more difficult. Each redirect hop can mask the true destination, requiring investigators to follow the entire chain. Short link services can hide malicious URLs, making it impossible to assess safety without expanding the link. Our tracker automates this expansion process, revealing the full chain without clicking the link.