URL links in forum comments emailed to me, coming with tons of data. Why?

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I have been receiving emails from some Forums here and, of late, those that are coming with URL links to the articles in question, as they usually do, look as the one today, shown in the attached file: with lots off added data.

It could be some change in my software of that at  my ISP’s server, but I doubt that, because I have tried sending emails with links in them and they have all come out quite clean when they are received. Because of that, it looks to me as this is related to something in this Web site, so I decided best to let someone here know by posting this entry.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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Bluetrix

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From what I can guess, WordPress has changed the the mailer host for this function.

I’ve asked the same question, that’s the only explanation I can think of.

It only occurs with replies in forums I am subscribed to. It doesn’t do that with DM notifications. Odd.

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Thanks, Bluetrix.

A possible problem with this is that some people who might benefit from the information in the threads these links connect to may be reluctant to click on them, because of their unusual appearance and their awareness of the fact that we live now in the Age of Phishings and Computer Hijackings, so some of them may not use the links and fail to see something that perhaps they should.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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Moonbear

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I agree entirely – using an organisation like sendgrid to deliver what should be simple links is a bad idea – I for one would not generally be happy to click on such a link, and would not advise less malware-aware friends to do so.  Let’s hope this change is undone soon.

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b

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Oscar
I believe the links are still the same but the text displayed is now the link rather than the location at Woodys.
From a while ago:

actual link
https://u7211552.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=3UfR-2B1z-2B-2FqsYRZoiI4UVq1mA5f-2FYSmBhCkEDX6z3my2ykIrgkwI-2BFNb-2FIwu16xs1cO9b7g0KyT5Mh-2FKo23HTb7nL2H-2FjvKWhEFTvlY6s-2BbI-3D_faKqur2buH9DpER2T0SodtcBnCebuCt1NfBr-2F2-2BqXPOs34FEnoep6AEs8a85-2FwTQIPYF3IxRnZs1PYfqccUIJFohr9gnmnMosiuODAPDyXJuVtpTZfRdM7CkTaUfommaogaDRavpRBfcVq2xiwvM-2Bs1MJOu4rwvueqzk-2Bzi0eHBENcIfDoyreC6OY5ZguLtzITzsF77f7yZvvwa4mq4XjCG1XTiCy-2F2kwqEe5JwcsHo-3D =

text referencing the location at woodys
Post Link: https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/build-a-new-computer/#post-1876171
BTW I am Definitely NOT a fan of sendgrid, the technique obfuscates the actual link. While we can trust Woody getting us used to that puts us in a bad habit for being Phish Baited.

I am sure it is thought that there is a good operational reason for doing it this way I am suer few security folk would condone it. IMHO of course.

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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OscarCP

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I looked at saved email Notifications from subscribed forums dating back to Aug 2019.

When page source is opened the links appear as a “sendgrid” link, like we view now.

If you have any saved Notifications from last year, the page source can be viewed by right clicking in body of email and selecting “page source”, scroll down to link.

For me, until Jan 2, 2020 all links presented as AskWoody links in email.

The only thing different as Wavy pointed out, is how the link is presented in the emails today.

 

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Thanks to all those that have explained the reason for this weird-looking links. Nice to know that.

Now, and for the record: I have no plans to click on weird looking links on emails, no matter where the emails are allegedly coming from.

While the content of the email might give one some idea of in which forum to look for the corresponding thread, it is not a necessarily clear hint. But there might be a way around (or not), and that would be to have written, either at the top of the email or at the very bottom, automatically if possible, the name of the forum and the name of the thread (and, while at it, perhaps also the handle of who wrote the comment being emailed and the time when it was written?…), rather than merely mentioning that the email is being sent because one subscribes “to a topic”. This way one could, at least, know where to look, later on, when browsing through Woody’s.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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wavy

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Did we loose a couple of the posts here ??

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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OscarCP

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