Since July 2026, Google has begun redirecting some of its search result links through an internal page, google.com/goto, instead of directly linking to the target websites. This means that when users click on a search result, they first go through a Google-controlled page before being redirected to the actual site. The destination URL is hidden in an encoded parameter, which is not readable by humans. Instead, the real address is only revealed in a technical server response header called "Location," which is not visible when users hover their mouse over the link. This change affects how users can verify the destination of a link, as the visible address no longer appears in the browser’s status bar. This shift comes amid concerns about online security and phishing attacks. Ads and sponsored search results have long been a common entry point for malicious activities, such as fake downloads or cloned websites designed to trick users. Recently, a campaign targeted Windows users with a fake Node.js installer that actually contained spyware. A similar incident was reported in March 2026, where fake installation pages for the AI tool Claude Code were distributed through Google Ads, and clicking on them installed the Amatera Stealer spyware. These incidents highlight how deceptive content can be spread through search results. Google’s decision to obscure the destination URL may reflect a broader strategy to protect users from such threats, but it also raises concerns about transparency. By relying on its own security systems, Google is asking users to trust that its search results are safe, even as the company faces growing challenges in maintaining a secure environment. This change also affects tools that rely on Google search results for tracking, SEO analysis, research, and accessibility. These tools now need to query Google separately for each link, which increases costs and can lead to limitations on the number of requests allowed. Experts suggest that Google may be making this change to increase the cost of using its search results for third-party tools, similar to how it collects content from other sites for its own search index. Rather than using Google as a gateway to the web, users are advised to type in the exact website address they want to visit and bookmark it directly. This is especially important for searches related to software, technical support, or banking, where the risk of encountering malicious content is higher. It remains unclear when this change will fully affect users in France, but the shift underscores the growing complexity of navigating the internet safely.