# External links being routed through the SDMB

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-links-being-routed-through-the-sdmb/571657>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [February 17, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-links-being-routed-through-the-sdmb/571657 "2011-02-17T02:42:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-links-being-routed-through-the-sdmb/571657/1 "2011-02-17T02:42:26Z")

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I’m not sure if the SDMB recently (last few months) added a tracking feature where external link clicks are tracked, but I’ve been getting 404 errors every so often when trying to follow a link. What happens is that I open a link in a thread on a new tab, get a 404 error, with the address bar containing a [boards.straightdope.com/4](http://boards.straightdope.com/4) or another number. Am I the only one getting this, or has something changed with the SDMB?

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-links-being-routed-through-the-sdmb/571657/2 "2011-02-17T16:47:33Z")

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> [@treis](#):
>
> I’m not sure if the SDMB recently (last few months) added a tracking feature where external link clicks are tracked

Yes, there’s recent a thread around here about adding a tracking feature for the benefit of Amazon and possibly other sites. No, you’re not the only one getting the occasional weird url from a link.

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**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-links-being-routed-through-the-sdmb/571657/3 "2011-02-18T01:03:32Z")

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In that case, I don’t like it and wish it would go away. ☹