Strange addition to URL in address bar

Browser Support Desktop Support
,
1

When I go to https://www.google.co.uk/ Brave is adding a strange extension, regardless of whether I first open the browser or if I type the address directly.

Brave is adding this → ?zx=1731925436894&no_sw_cr=1 after the address

Can anyone tell me if this is normal or not?

OS: Windows 11 Professional
Brave Version: 1.73.89
Chromium Version: 131.0.6778.69

2

I tested the link you provided, using a borrowed Windows OS 11 PC, and I did not encounter the “strange extension” of characters, but they look familiar.

For testing, I used a new installation of Brave Browser (Windows OS) and both:

  • Brave Browser New Window
  • Brave Browser New Private Window

and I am in the habit of always clearing all cache, cookies, history when quitting.

A possibility:

The website recognizes some identifiable characteristics of your computing device and correctly hypothesized that you have previously visited.

The website sent a cookie that your browser stored, and “2 + 2 = 4” just like that, the website was satisfied that it guessed correctly . . . and then sort-of-tagged on a note, to that effect, at the end of the URL address field that you entered . . . as sort of a layup for a pending redirect that would be caused by your clicking on some link or button at the initial Google UK webpage you encountered.

Does that sound like . . . a . . . maybe?

3

@ste_wilko,
Would be helpful to know a few additional details here:

  • Are you signed into your Google account when this occurs?
  • Do you see this same behavior if you launch a Private browsing window and visit google.co.uk?
  • Do you have any extensions installed at this time?
  • If you visit google.co.uk in another browser, do you see the same behavior there?
4

Brave is adding this → ?zx=1731925436894&no_sw_cr=1 after the address

Brave is not adding this, looks like the website (Google) is, people are seeing it on Chrome and Edge as well.

1 Like
5

I am currently having the same issue with brave. I am trying to access my router with the ip address x.x.x.x and I have two routers, one has open wrt and one has ddwrt. They both use the same ip to login but open wrt adds /cgi-bin/luci while dd wrt only uses the ip address.

Now when I use the ip address on ddwrt brave automatically adds the /cgi-bin/luci at the end, if I delete it, it again adds the end line after hitting enter. What could be wrong with it? I have to use a different browser now to access the router.