Summary
Link Sanitizer is on by default. It strips the tracking parameters you leave enabled, before the page loads. Turn it off in the Windscribe Browser Extension under Privacy if you do not want it.
Remove Known Trackers
Strip recognized analytics, advertising, social, email marketing, affiliate, and attribution parameters from links.
Choose What Gets Cleaned
Turn built-in tracking groups on or off independently. Only the enabled groups are removed.
Add Your Own Parameters
Enter custom query parameter names when a tracker is not covered by the built-in groups.
Keep Trusted Sites Untouched
Use the Privacy Features allowlist to skip cleaning on sites that need their original query parameters.
How to use it
1
Open the Windscribe Browser Extension and go to Privacy.
2
Link Sanitizer is already on. Open its detail page.
3
Choose the tracking groups you want to remove and add any custom parameter names.
4
Reload the tab or paste the link again. Link Sanitizer applies the new settings before the next page load.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Link Sanitizer remove?
It removes query parameters that match your enabled tracking groups or custom parameter list. Everything else in the URL stays put.
What are tracking parameters, anyway?
Bits of text tacked onto a URL (after the
?) that tell whoever sent you the link where you came from, what you clicked, and sometimes who you are. Marketers love them. Link Sanitizer strips the ones you don't want along for the ride.Will this break the link or send me somewhere else?
Usually not, but removing query parameters can occasionally affect links that use them for navigation, authentication, purchases, or signatures. If a site stops working as expected, disable the relevant group or add the site to the Allowlist with Allow Privacy Features enabled.
Does Link Sanitizer change the page path or hash?
No. It only cleans matching query parameters after the
?. The path and hash are left alone.Is Link Sanitizer on by default?
Yes. It is on by default. Turn it off yourself in the Windscribe Browser Extension, under Privacy.
I also have uBlock Origin Lite from the store. Will that still clean links?
Yes. That other extension can still remove tracking parameters. Link Sanitizer cannot turn those rules off. Turn that other extension off if you want Link Sanitizer to be the only cleaner.
Does this stop websites from tracking me completely?
No. Link Sanitizer only cleans tracking parameters out of URLs. It won't stop cookies, fingerprinting, or anything happening after the page loads, that's a different job (and a different set of tools).
Can I remove a parameter that's not in a built-in group?
Yes. Add its exact name under Custom Parameters. Link Sanitizer matches full parameter names, not partial ones, so type it exactly as it appears.
Can I turn off cleaning for a specific site?
Yes. Add the site to the Allowlist and enable Allow Privacy Features for it. Enable Apply to all subdomains if the exception should also cover its subdomains.
Will this mess with affiliate or referral links I actually want to use?
If a tracking group includes affiliate parameters, enabling it will strip them, including ones you meant to keep. Turn off that group, or allowlist the site, if you need affiliate links to stay intact.
Is Link Sanitizer part of the VPN, or something separate?
It's a separate Privacy Feature inside the Windscribe Browser Extension, not part of the VPN tunnel itself. You can use it with or without an active VPN connection.
Do I need to configure anything before it works?
No. It is on, and all built-in tracking groups are selected. You can turn groups off or add comma-separated custom parameter names.