Tracking Detector

Web analytics and tracking detection tool built with TypeScript and Puppeteer. This Apify actor scans websites to identify various tracking and analytics tools, capturing both static implementations and runtime tracking events.

Features

• Detects popular analytics and tracking tools
• Captures real-time tracking events
• Identifies script implementations
• Extracts tracking IDs and configuration
• Provides detailed logging of all detected tracking activities
• TypeScript implementation with strong type safety

Usage

Input

The actor accepts a single required parameter:

1{
2    "url": "https://example.com"
3}

• url: The target website URL to analyze (must be a valid HTTP/HTTPS URL)

Output

The actor provides detailed tracking information in the following format:

1{
2    url: string;              // The analyzed URL
3    timestamp: string;        // ISO timestamp of analysis
4    tools: Array<{
5        name: string;         // Name of the tracking tool
6        script_urls: string[];  // URLs of detected tracking scripts
7        tracking_urls: string[]; // URLs of actual tracking requests
8    }>;
9}

Detection Methods

The actor uses two methods to detect tracking tools:

1. Script Detection (script_urls)

   • Finds tracking scripts loaded on the page
   • Shows what tools are implemented, even if not actively tracking
   • Example: "script_urls": ["https://analytics.example.com/tracking-script.js"]

2. Network Request Detection (tracking_urls)

   • Captures actual tracking requests made to analytics servers
   • Shows real tracking activity and data collection
   • Example: "tracking_urls": ["https://analytics.example.com/track?data=..."]

A tool might appear in the results with:

• Both script_urls and tracking_urls (actively tracking)
• Only script_urls (implemented but not yet tracking)
• Only tracking_urls (tracking via alternative implementation)

Detected Services

🔹 Web & Product Analytics

• Google Analytics
• Google Tag Manager
• Mixpanel
• Segment
• Heap
• Amplitude
• Pendo
• PostHog

🔹 Advertising & Conversion Tracking

• Facebook Pixel
• TikTok Pixel
• LinkedIn Insight Tag
• Twitter Conversion Tracking
• Microsoft Clarity
• Pinterest Tag

🔹 A/B Testing & Personalization

• Google Optimize
• Optimizely
• VWO (Visual Website Optimizer)

🔹 Customer Data Platforms (CDPs)

• RudderStack
• mParticle

🔹 Live Chat & Customer Support Tracking

• Intercom
• Drift
• Zendesk Chat
• LiveChat

🔹 Session Recording & Heatmaps

• Hotjar
• Crazy Egg
• FullStory
• Lucky Orange

🔹 Email & Marketing Automation

• Klaviyo
• HubSpot Tracking
• Marketo
• Mailchimp Tracking

🔹 Push Notifications & Engagement

• OneSignal
• Airship

🔹 Ecommerce & Affiliate Tracking

• Google Ads Conversion Tracking
• Shopify Pixel
• Rakuten Affiliate
• CJ Affiliate

Error Handling

The actor includes robust error handling for:

• Invalid URL inputs
• Network timeouts
• Page load failures
• Browser crashes
• Runtime errors
• Storage operation failures

Future Improvements

• Add detection for more analytics platforms
• Add support for cookie analysis
• Enhance tracking event categorization
• Add support for custom tracking patterns
• Implement batch URL processing
• Add support for authentication/login flows