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Why You Need a Link Cloaker
Want cleaner, more manageable links that boost your marketing efforts? A link cloaker can transform long, messy affiliate links into branded, trustworthy URLs, protecting your commissions and improving click-through rates. This list presents 7 top link cloakers—from simple options like Pretty Links and ThirstyAffiliates to robust platforms like ClickMagick and Linkly (formerly ClickMeter)—to help you choose the best tool for your needs. Whether you're a TikTok advertiser, social media marketer, or managing large-scale campaigns, find the perfect link cloaker to optimize your performance. We'll also cover tools like AliasLinks, Rebrandly, and Cloakit.
1. AliasLinks
AliasLinks stands out as a robust link cloaker, particularly suited for managing large-scale affiliate marketing campaigns. It's designed to streamline workflows for marketers, influencers, and businesses advertising across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Its core strength lies in its advanced cloaking technology, which tackles the common pitfalls of broken links and lost conversions, ensuring your campaigns perform optimally. This is crucial for anyone running paid advertising where broken links directly translate to wasted ad spend. Imagine launching a large TikTok campaign only to discover a broken link is hindering your conversions—AliasLinks is designed to prevent such scenarios. Beyond just cloaking, it offers a centralized dashboard simplifying campaign creation, bulk link editing, team management, and even the creation of customizable preview pages to expedite advertiser approvals. This comprehensive approach makes it a compelling choice for those juggling multiple campaigns or collaborating with teams. For example, if you're an agency managing multiple clients' social media campaigns, AliasLinks' bulk actions and centralized dashboard can drastically improve efficiency.
AliasLinks supports unlimited clicks and redirects to any URL, providing flexibility for diverse marketing strategies. Integrations with popular tools like Carrd, Webflow, Google Forms, and Funnelish further enhance its functionality, streamlining workflows and eliminating manual tasks. Think about how easily you could integrate your lead generation efforts through Google Forms directly into your affiliate marketing campaigns. You can learn more about AliasLinks and its features in their detailed blog post. While features like real-time analytics and landing page builders are still under development, the current feature set offers significant value. AliasLinks offers three pricing tiers: Lite, Standard, and Advanced, catering to various needs and budgets. The Advanced plan, priced at $139/month, may be a significant investment for smaller marketers, but it unlocks the full potential of the platform for larger-scale operations. However, every plan comes with a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to test the platform risk-free.
Pros:
- Advanced affiliate link cloaking minimizes broken links and lost conversions.
- Centralized dashboard for efficient campaign management and bulk actions.
- Flexible traffic split testing and unlimited link clicks.
- Seamless integration with marketing tools like Carrd, Webflow, and Google Forms.
- Risk-free trial and money-back guarantee.
Cons:
- Some advanced features (real-time statistics, on-page redirects) are still in development.
- The Advanced plan's pricing might be a barrier for some smaller marketers.
This tool deserves a spot on this list due to its robust cloaking technology, focus on large-scale campaign management, and integrations with popular marketing tools. While the pricing might be a consideration for smaller businesses, the comprehensive features and risk-free trial make it worth exploring for those seeking a powerful and efficient link cloaker solution, especially for social media and affiliate marketing. The platform’s future development promises even more advanced functionalities, making it a valuable long-term investment for serious marketers. If you're an affiliate marketer working with TikTok or other social media platforms, AliasLinks could be the link cloaker you've been searching for.
2. ClickMagick
ClickMagick is a robust link cloaker that goes beyond simply masking URLs. It's a comprehensive link management and tracking solution designed for serious marketers, affiliates, and businesses seeking granular control over their campaigns. Whether you're managing a complex affiliate marketing strategy, running targeted advertising campaigns, or simply trying to protect your links from commission theft, ClickMagick offers a suite of tools to help you optimize your efforts. Its advanced features allow you to monitor, analyze, and improve your link performance, ultimately boosting your conversion rates.
One of ClickMagick's core strengths lies in its detailed tracking and analytics. Beyond simple click counts, it provides in-depth metrics on unique clicks, geographic location, device type, and even the referring source. This granular data empowers you to understand user behavior, identify profitable traffic sources, and optimize your campaigns accordingly. For instance, if you find that a specific social media platform is driving highly converting traffic, you can allocate more resources to that platform. Similarly, if you notice a high bounce rate from mobile users, you can investigate potential mobile compatibility issues with your landing page.
ClickMagick also offers advanced features like split testing and link rotators. Split testing allows you to experiment with different versions of your cloaked links, directing traffic to various landing pages or offers to see which performs best. Link rotators, on the other hand, distribute traffic across multiple destinations, which is particularly useful for managing affiliate links or A/B testing different offers. These functionalities allow for data-driven decision-making, ensuring that your marketing campaigns are constantly optimized for maximum ROI. Furthermore, ClickMagick's robust click fraud protection helps safeguard your advertising budget by identifying and filtering out suspicious clicks. This feature is especially beneficial for businesses running paid advertising campaigns, ensuring that their budget is spent on genuine clicks from real potential customers.
Pricing: ClickMagick offers various pricing tiers based on the number of clicks tracked per month, starting from $37/month.
Technical Requirements: ClickMagick is a cloud-based solution, so there are no specific technical requirements other than an internet connection and a web browser.
Pros:
- Comprehensive analytics dashboard with detailed metrics
- Excellent customer support and documentation
- Mobile-friendly tracking and reporting
- Regular updates and new feature releases
- Robust click fraud protection
Cons:
- Higher price point compared to basic link cloakers, making it more suitable for those with a larger budget and more advanced needs.
- Can have a steeper learning curve for beginners due to the extensive feature set. However, the comprehensive documentation and customer support help mitigate this.
- Some advanced features require higher-tier plans.
Setup Tips:
- Utilize custom tracking domains to maintain brand consistency and avoid potential flagging by platforms.
- Implement conversion tracking to measure the effectiveness of your cloaked links and identify areas for improvement.
- Explore the advanced features like split testing and link rotators to optimize your campaigns further.
Why ClickMagick Deserves Its Place: ClickMagick earns its spot on this list due to its comprehensive approach to link management. It's not just a link cloaker; it's a powerful marketing tool that provides in-depth analytics, robust fraud protection, and advanced features for optimizing your campaigns. While the price point may be higher than simpler alternatives, the extensive functionalities and data-driven insights justify the investment for serious marketers, affiliates, and businesses looking to scale their operations. Visit ClickMagick
3. ThirstyAffiliates
ThirstyAffiliates is a robust link cloaker plugin designed specifically for WordPress, catering to affiliate marketers, bloggers, and content creators seeking a streamlined solution for managing their affiliate links. It allows you to easily cloak those long, unwieldy affiliate links, transforming them into clean, branded short links that redirect to your affiliate offers. This not only enhances the professionalism of your content but also provides a layer of protection against link hijacking and allows for basic click tracking. For example, instead of promoting a product with a long, complex URL like
example.com/affiliate/product?id=12345&ref=yourname, you can use a branded short link like yourdomain.com/product123. This makes the link easier to share and remember, increasing the chances of conversions.
One of the key strengths of ThirstyAffiliates is its seamless integration with the WordPress platform. This eliminates the need for external services and simplifies link management directly within your WordPress dashboard. You can categorize and organize your links, automatically insert them into your content, and even set up automatic keyword linking. Imagine you're writing a blog post about the best running shoes. With ThirstyAffiliates, you can automatically link the keyword "running shoes" to your affiliate link, saving you time and ensuring consistent linking across your content. For further reading on how ThirstyAffiliates empowers bloggers with smart link masking strategies, learn more about ThirstyAffiliates.
While ThirstyAffiliates excels in its simplicity and integration with WordPress, it's essential to be aware of its limitations. The analytics provided are basic compared to dedicated link tracking solutions, making it less suitable for large-scale campaigns requiring granular data analysis. Features like the Amazon API integration are locked behind the Pro version. While ThirstyAffiliates offers a one-time payment option for the Pro version rather than a recurring subscription, this initial investment might be a consideration for smaller businesses or individual marketers.
Key Features:
- WordPress-based link cloaking solution
- Link categorization and organization
- Automatic link insertion in content
- Basic click statistics and reporting
- Automatic keyword linking
- Amazon API integration (Pro version)
Pros:
- Easy integration with WordPress sites
- One-time payment for Pro version
- User-friendly interface for managing links
Cons:
- Limited to WordPress websites only
- Basic analytics compared to dedicated tracking solutions
- Some key features only available in Pro version
ThirstyAffiliates deserves its place on this list because it offers a practical and user-friendly link cloaking solution specifically for WordPress users. It's a great option for bloggers, affiliate marketers, and content creators who are primarily focused on WordPress and want a simple, yet effective way to manage and cloak their affiliate links without the complexities of a full-blown link tracking platform. If your marketing needs are moderate and you're working primarily within the WordPress ecosystem, ThirstyAffiliates is definitely worth considering. However, if you require advanced analytics or operate outside of WordPress, exploring other link cloaker options might be more beneficial.
4. Pretty Links
Pretty Links is a popular WordPress plugin specifically designed for link cloaking and management. Its primary focus is on transforming long, complex affiliate links into clean, memorable, and branded URLs. This makes it an invaluable link cloaker tool, especially for affiliate marketers and anyone working within the WordPress ecosystem. It offers both free and premium versions, catering to users with varying needs and budgets. The free version provides the core cloaking functionality, while Pretty Links Pro unlocks more advanced features such as enhanced click tracking, keyword auto-linking, and more robust redirect options. This tiered approach makes it suitable for both beginners dipping their toes into link management and seasoned marketers looking for a comprehensive solution.
For example, instead of using a lengthy, unwieldy affiliate link like
yourdomain.com/affiliate/product123?ref=456, you can use Pretty Links to create a short, branded link such as yourdomain.com/product123. This not only looks more professional and trustworthy but also makes it easier for your audience to remember and share. The plugin allows for different types of redirects (301, 302, 307, and cloaked), giving you control over how users are directed to the target URL. This flexibility is essential for various marketing strategies and SEO practices. Furthermore, Pretty Links provides click tracking and reporting, allowing you to monitor the performance of your cloaked links and gain insights into your audience's engagement. You can see which links are performing best and adjust your strategies accordingly. This feature is particularly beneficial for affiliate marketers who need to track conversions and optimize their campaigns. The auto-linking feature can automatically convert specific keywords within your content into cloaked affiliate links, saving you time and effort. Learn more about Pretty Links to explore advanced cloaking techniques and ethical considerations.Features:
- Simple link cloaking within WordPress
- Multiple redirect types (301, 302, 307, cloaked)
- Click tracking and reporting
- Auto-linking keywords in content
- Link categorization and organization
Pros:
- Beginner-friendly with a simple interface
- Available free version with basic functionality
- Good balance of features and simplicity
- Regular updates and good support
Cons:
- WordPress-only solution
- Limited analytics in the free version
- Less robust tracking compared to dedicated link cloaker solutions
Pricing: Free version available; Pro version pricing varies based on the plan.
Technical Requirements: A self-hosted WordPress website.
Pretty Links deserves its place on this list because it offers a robust and easy-to-use link cloaking solution specifically designed for the WordPress environment. Its simplicity and tiered pricing structure make it accessible to a wide range of users, from beginners to experienced marketers. While it may not offer the advanced analytics of dedicated link cloaker platforms, its core features and seamless integration with WordPress make it a valuable tool for anyone looking to manage and cloak links effectively within their WordPress site. This is particularly beneficial for affiliate marketers, social media marketers, and anyone managing multiple campaigns who need a straightforward way to create clean, branded links and track their performance. If you are a TikTok advertiser or influencer managing multiple campaigns, the shortened, branded links generated by Pretty Links can be vital for maintaining a professional image and optimizing your marketing efforts on platforms with character limitations.
5. Linkly (formerly ClickMeter)
Linkly (formerly ClickMeter) stands out as a robust link cloaker, going beyond basic URL shortening and offering a comprehensive suite of link management tools ideal for scaling marketing campaigns. It's a particularly good fit for marketing teams, agencies, and serious affiliate marketers who need granular insights into their link performance to optimize campaigns and maximize ROI. More than just a simple link cloaker, Linkly offers a centralized platform for managing, tracking, and analyzing all your links, making it a powerful tool for data-driven marketing.
Imagine running multiple affiliate marketing campaigns across various platforms. With Linkly, you can cloak your affiliate links, making them more aesthetically pleasing and trustworthy, while simultaneously tracking clicks, conversions, and even detecting fraudulent activity. This level of detailed tracking is crucial for identifying which campaigns are performing best, optimizing underperforming links, and protecting your commissions from fraudulent clicks. This granular data is not something offered by every link cloaker and positions Linkly as a top contender for serious marketers.
Linkly’s feature set extends beyond basic link cloaking. It includes A/B testing capabilities, allowing you to experiment with different variations of your cloaked links to determine which performs best in driving conversions. Furthermore, the platform's sophisticated fraud detection capabilities add an extra layer of security, protecting your marketing investments and ensuring accurate performance data. For agencies managing multiple clients, Linkly provides team collaboration features and the ability to manage links for different campaigns and clients within a single dashboard.
Features:
- Enterprise-level link cloaking and management
- Comprehensive analytics and reporting
- A/B testing and comparison tools
- Team collaboration features
- Advanced fraud detection and prevention
- API access for custom integrations
Pros:
- Robust tracking capabilities with detailed metrics
- Suitable for agencies with multiple clients
- Strong security features and fraud protection
- API access for integration with other marketing tools
Cons:
- Can have a significant learning curve for new users due to its extensive feature set.
- Higher pricing tiers are required to unlock advanced features.
- The interface can be overwhelming for beginners.
While pricing details aren't readily available on the website, it's geared towards enterprise-level users, so expect a more premium pricing model compared to basic URL shorteners. Technical requirements are minimal, requiring only a web browser for access. Compared to simpler link cloakers, Linkly offers a significantly more advanced feature set but comes with a steeper learning curve. If you’re a small business or individual just starting out, a simpler tool might be sufficient. However, if you're scaling your marketing operations, managing multiple campaigns, or need in-depth analytics and fraud protection, Linkly is a powerful link cloaker worth considering.
For implementation, simply sign up for an account, create a new link, customize your cloaked URL, and start tracking its performance. The robust analytics dashboard provides detailed insights into click-through rates, conversions, and other key metrics, allowing you to fine-tune your marketing strategies for optimal results.
6. Rebrandly
Rebrandly is a versatile link management platform that shines in the realm of branded short links and link cloaking, making it a valuable tool for various marketing needs. While not solely designed for affiliate marketing, its robust features, especially custom domain link cloaking, make it a popular choice for marketers seeking a professional and streamlined approach to link management. Whether you're an individual influencer, a small business looking to scale, or a seasoned marketing professional managing complex campaigns, Rebrandly offers a user-friendly solution to enhance your branding and track link performance. This makes it a worthy contender in our list of top link cloakers.
Rebrandly’s core strength lies in its ability to create branded links. Instead of using generic short links, you can cloak your affiliate links or any other URLs with a custom domain, giving them a more professional and trustworthy appearance. For example, if your domain is
example.com, you can create a branded short link like example.com/promo which redirects to your target URL. This is invaluable for building brand recognition and increasing click-through rates. Furthermore, this link cloaker provides a comprehensive dashboard for managing all your links, allowing you to track clicks and analyze performance. Teams can also collaborate within the platform, simplifying workflow and enhancing productivity.Features and Benefits:
- Custom domain link cloaking: Mask lengthy or complex URLs with your own branded short links.
- Link management dashboard: Organize, edit, and track all your links in one central location.
- Basic analytics and click tracking: Monitor link performance with essential metrics.
- Team collaboration features: Facilitate teamwork with shared access and management capabilities.
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android: Manage your links on the go.
- Integrations: Connects with over 50 marketing tools to streamline your workflows.
Pros:
- Clean, intuitive user interface: Easy to navigate and use, even for beginners.
- Free tier available with basic features: Allows users to explore the platform before committing to a paid plan.
- Strong focus on link branding and customization: Empowers users to create professional and consistent branding.
- Wide range of integrations: Seamlessly integrates with various marketing tools for efficient workflows.
Cons:
- Limited advanced tracking features: While basic analytics are provided, more in-depth tracking might require a dedicated affiliate marketing tool.
- Higher tiers needed for multiple custom domains: Using several branded domains requires upgrading to a paid subscription.
- Not specifically designed for affiliate marketing: Lacks some specialized features found in dedicated affiliate platforms.
Pricing and Technical Requirements:
Rebrandly offers a free plan with limited features and branded links. Paid plans start at $29 per month and offer increased functionality, such as multiple custom domains and more advanced analytics. No specific technical requirements are listed beyond a web browser and internet connection. The mobile apps enhance accessibility for on-the-go management.
Comparison with Similar Tools:
Compared to dedicated affiliate marketing link cloakers, Rebrandly focuses more on branding and link management. While it offers basic tracking, tools like Bitly or TinyURL provide simpler short link generation without the branding focus. However, Rebrandly outperforms these tools in terms of customization and professional branding options.
Implementation/Setup Tips:
- Start with the free plan: Explore the platform's features and determine if it meets your needs.
- Connect your custom domain: This is crucial for maximizing branding benefits.
- Utilize the link management dashboard: Organize your links for easy access and tracking.
- Explore the integrations: Leverage the connections with other marketing tools to streamline your workflow.
Rebrandly secures its place in this list because of its unique focus on branded link cloaking. While other tools offer short links, Rebrandly enables users to reinforce their brand identity with every link they share. This focus, combined with a user-friendly interface and a range of integrations, makes it a powerful link management solution for various marketing needs.
7. Cloakit: Advanced Cloaking for Protecting Your Campaigns
Cloakit earns its spot on this list as a powerful link cloaker specifically designed for protecting affiliate marketing campaigns and managing complex promotional efforts. While some link cloakers focus primarily on analytics, Cloakit prioritizes advanced cloaking technology to safeguard your links and optimize your content delivery. This makes it particularly appealing to affiliate marketers, TikTok advertisers, social media marketers, and anyone concerned about protecting their campaigns from unwanted visitors.
This link cloaker excels at showing different content to different audiences. Imagine you're running a sensitive affiliate campaign. You want real potential customers to see your optimized landing page, but you need to keep prying eyes like bots, competitors, or platform moderators away from your core offer. Cloakit allows you to do just that. Its sophisticated visitor filtering and segmentation, combined with bot and moderator detection, lets you control who sees what. You can present alternative content to these unwanted visitors, effectively cloaking your true destination and safeguarding your campaign's integrity.
Beyond basic cloaking, Cloakit offers powerful targeting features. Geo-targeting allows you to tailor offers to specific geographic locations, maximizing relevance and conversion rates. Device and browser targeting lets you optimize the user experience based on the visitor's platform. Furthermore, referrer source filtering helps you understand where your traffic is coming from and adjust your cloaking strategies accordingly.
Key Features & Benefits:
- Advanced Visitor Filtering & Segmentation: Create highly specific rules to target different audience segments.
- Bot & Moderator Detection: Protect your campaigns from unwanted scrutiny and maintain compliance.
- Geo-Targeting: Deliver location-specific offers and promotions for increased relevance.
- Device & Browser Targeting: Optimize the user experience based on the visitor's device and browser.
- Referrer Source Filtering: Identify and manage traffic sources for better campaign optimization.
- Simple Setup with Ready-Made Templates: Quickly deploy cloaking rules without extensive technical expertise.
Pros:
- Specialized in Protective Cloaking Technology: Cloakit's primary focus on cloaking makes it highly effective in shielding your campaigns.
- Highly Customizable Filtering Rules: Fine-tune your cloaking strategies with granular control over visitor segmentation.
- Focused Specifically on Protecting Affiliate Campaigns: Designed with the needs of affiliate marketers in mind.
Cons:
- Limited Analytics Compared to Full Tracking Solutions: While Cloakit offers some basic tracking, it may not provide the in-depth analytics of dedicated tracking platforms.
- Primarily Focused on Cloaking Rather Than Comprehensive Link Management: If you need a tool for broader link management beyond cloaking, you might need to consider other options.
- May Require Technical Knowledge to Use Advanced Features: While basic setup is simple, leveraging the full power of Cloakit's advanced features may require some technical understanding.
(Pricing and Technical Requirements: Information not readily available on the website. Contact Cloakit directly for details.)
Implementation Tips:
- Start with a simple cloaking rule and gradually add more complex filtering as needed.
- Test your cloaking setup thoroughly to ensure it functions as expected.
- Explore Cloakit's ready-made templates to get started quickly.
Comparison with Similar Tools:
While tools like Bitly or TinyURL offer basic link shortening and some tracking, Cloakit goes further by providing advanced cloaking and filtering capabilities. If your priority is protecting your affiliate campaigns and controlling content visibility, Cloakit offers a specialized solution that surpasses these more general link management tools.
Cloakit stands out as a powerful link cloaker tailored for protecting your marketing investments. Its focus on advanced cloaking technology, combined with robust filtering and targeting features, makes it a valuable tool for affiliate marketers, social media managers, and anyone looking to shield their campaigns from unwanted visitors and optimize content delivery for specific audiences.
Link Cloaking Tools Feature Comparison
Platform | Core Features / Capabilities | User Experience & Quality ★ | Value & Pricing 💰 | Target Audience 👥 | Unique Selling Points ✨ |
AliasLinks 🏆 | Affiliate link cloaking, traffic split testing, unlimited clicks, bulk actions, redirect to any URL | ★★★★☆ Intuitive dashboard, seamless integrations | 💰 Lite to Advanced ($139/mo max), 7-day free trial, 30-day guarantee | 👥 Marketers, influencers, SMBs | ✨ Centralized management, customizable preview pages, integrations, risk-free trial |
ClickMagick | Link cloaking with custom domains, rotators, split testing, click fraud protection | ★★★★☆ Detailed analytics, mobile-friendly | 💰 Higher price, tiered plans | 👥 Marketers, affiliates, businesses | ✨ Advanced fraud detection, detailed reports |
ThirstyAffiliates | WordPress plugin, link cloaking, basic stats, Amazon API integration (Pro) | ★★★☆☆ Easy WP integration, user-friendly | 💰 One-time Pro payment, no subscription | 👥 Bloggers, content creators | ✨ Automatic keyword linking, WP-native |
Pretty Links | WP link cloaking, multiple redirects, click tracking, auto-link keywords | ★★★☆☆ Simple, beginner-friendly, free & Pro versions | 💰 Free + Pro upgrade options | 👥 Bloggers, beginners | ✨ Simple interface, free basic version |
Linkly | Enterprise link cloaking, A/B testing, fraud detection, team features | ★★★★☆ Robust tracking, API access | 💰 Premium pricing, higher tiers | 👥 Agencies, marketing teams | ✨ Enterprise-grade, strong security |
Rebrandly | Custom domain cloaking, link branding, basic analytics, mobile apps | ★★★☆☆ Clean UI, wide integrations | 💰 Free tier, premium for domains | 👥 Marketers seeking branding | ✨ Powerful branding, 50+ integrations |
Cloakit | Visitor filtering, bot/moderator detection, geo & device targeting | ★★★☆☆ Focused cloaking tech | 💰 Moderate, no subscription details | 👥 Affiliate marketers needing protection | ✨ Advanced visitor filtering, content targeting |
Choosing the Right Link Cloaker
Selecting the perfect link cloaker from the options we've explored—AliasLinks, ClickMagick, ThirstyAffiliates, Pretty Links, Linkly, Rebrandly, and Cloakit—hinges on your specific requirements and budget. Consider the scale of your marketing campaigns. Are you a small business just starting out, an influencer managing multiple campaigns, or a larger enterprise undertaking extensive marketing operations? Your chosen tool should seamlessly scale with your growth. Think, too, about the depth of analytics you need. Some link cloakers offer basic click tracking, while others provide granular insights into audience behavior and conversion paths. Finally, ensure platform compatibility with your existing marketing stack and preferred social media channels. These factors, combined with a clear understanding of your budget, will guide you towards the right choice.
For those who prefer a no-code approach, there are several AI-powered tools available that simplify tasks like building AI models and automating processes. A great resource to explore these options is this article on no-code AI tools from FlowGent AI, which covers the top 10 tools for 2025 and how they can benefit your business. This can be particularly helpful when integrating your chosen link cloaker with other marketing automation tools.
By carefully evaluating the tools presented in this listicle, you can select a link cloaker that not only protects your affiliate links and enhances brand trust, but also unlocks valuable data insights to optimize your conversion rates and boost your overall marketing performance. Empower yourself with the right tools and pave the way for greater success in your marketing endeavors. Ready to simplify your link management and enhance your marketing effectiveness? Explore the powerful features and user-friendly interface of AliasLinks, a robust link cloaker designed to streamline your campaigns and boost your conversions.
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