http_referer empty? Firewalls? - ASP / Active Server Pages

Can one reliably use http_referer to track a user page selections as I
appear to be getting BLANK values?

I have read that company firewalls etc block this method....

Thanks
jason

Jul 19 '05 #1

Subscribe Post Reply

5070

Andrew Urquhart

*j****@catamaranco.com* wrote:

Can one reliably use http_referer to track a user page selections

[snip]

No, it's strictly optional and is easily spoofed.
--
Andrew Urquhart
- FAQ: www.aspfaq.com
- Contact me: http://andrewu.co.uk/contact/

Jul 19 '05 #2

Thanks, are there any other viable alternatives?

- Jason

"Andrew Urquhart" <us**************************@spam.invalid> wrote in
message news:Of****************@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net...

*j****@catamaranco.com* wrote:
Can one reliably use http_referer to track a user page selections

[snip]

No, it's strictly optional and is easily spoofed.
--
Andrew Urquhart
- FAQ: www.aspfaq.com
- Contact me: http://andrewu.co.uk/contact/

Jul 19 '05 #3

Aaron [SQL Server MVP]

> Thanks, are there any other viable alternatives?

Post the data from page to page. Use session variables. Use a session
identifier in the querystring and store the data in the database.

As for the problems with HTTP_REFERER, see http://www.aspfaq.com/2169

--
http://www.aspfaq.com/
(Reverse address to reply.)

Jul 19 '05 #4

Andrew Urquhart

*j****@catamaranco.com* wrote:

*Andrew Urquhart* wrote:
*j****@catamaranco.com* wrote:
Can one reliably use http_referer to track a user page selections
[snip]

No, it's strictly optional and is easily spoofed.

Thanks, are there any other viable alternatives?

Ultimately the stateless nature of HTTP prevents this, but you can
attempt to do so via cookies, querystrings and form posts usually in
conjunction with some sort of database.
--
Andrew Urquhart
- FAQ: www.aspfaq.com
- Contact me: http://andrewu.co.uk/contact/
- This post is probably time-stamped +1 hour - blame my ISP (NTL)

Jul 19 '05 #5

Andrew Urquhart

*Aaron [SQL Server MVP]* wrote:

As for the problems with HTTP_REFERER, see http://www.aspfaq.com/2169

Possible additions for that FAQ entry:

"The situations where it doesn't work:"

10. If the user is using a Firewall or privacy filtering software
11. If the client allows referrers to be turned off (e.g. Opera,
Mozilla)

Perhaps there should also be a note on its reliability if it is present
because of ease of spoofing it?
--
Andrew Urquhart
- FAQ: http://www.aspfaq.com
- Contact me: http://andrewu.co.uk/contact/
- This post is probably time-stamped +1 hour - blame my ISP (NTL)

Jul 19 '05 #6

Would one have the same problem with the URL and PATH parameters...maybe I
could somehow string the original URL together useing these...

"Andrew Urquhart" <us**************************@spam.invalid> wrote in
message news:bK****************@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net...

*Aaron [SQL Server MVP]* wrote:
As for the problems with HTTP_REFERER, see http://www.aspfaq.com/2169

Possible additions for that FAQ entry:

"The situations where it doesn't work:"

10. If the user is using a Firewall or privacy filtering software
11. If the client allows referrers to be turned off (e.g. Opera,
Mozilla)

Perhaps there should also be a note on its reliability if it is present
because of ease of spoofing it?
--
Andrew Urquhart
- FAQ: http://www.aspfaq.com
- Contact me: http://andrewu.co.uk/contact/
- This post is probably time-stamped +1 hour - blame my ISP (NTL)

Jul 19 '05 #7

Thanks

"Aaron [SQL Server MVP]" <te*****@dnartreb.noraa> wrote in message
news:uM****************@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...

Thanks, are there any other viable alternatives?

Post the data from page to page. Use session variables. Use a session
identifier in the querystring and store the data in the database.

As for the problems with HTTP_REFERER, see http://www.aspfaq.com/2169

--
http://www.aspfaq.com/
(Reverse address to reply.)

Jul 19 '05 #8

Special Note: Browser Hawk Referrer works like a dream, so problem solved!

I am testing for both persistent and client side cookies - See checktype 3:

<%
set bh = Server.CreateObject("cyScape.browserObj")

Response.write CheckType
checkType = 3

if checkType = 3 then
bh.SetExtProperties "cookie_both,referrer"
elseif checkType = 2 then
bh.SetExtProperties "cookie_sess"
elseif checkType = 1 then
bh.SetExtProperties "cookie_perm"
else
response.write "<html>bad checkType specified</html>"
response.end
end if
bh.GetExtPropertiesEx
%>

I then successfully called the bh.Referrer property....

Great component that!

Thanks
Jason
<ja***@catamaranco.com> wrote in message
news:Ol**************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...

Can one reliably use http_referer to track a user page selections as I
appear to be getting BLANK values?

I have read that company firewalls etc block this method....

Thanks
jason

Jul 19 '05 #9

Similar topics

Unable to use $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER']

by: Jez | last post by:

Any ideas why I'm not able to use $_SERVER on my shared hosting account (PHP 4.1.2), but I can on my local server (PHP 4.3.3)? I imagine it has something to do with the different versions of PHP...

PHP

Empty $HTTP_REFERER variable

by: Krzysztof Piotrowski | last post by:

Hi all, I hale recently started using php - god fun :-D I decided to make visits statistics. My webpage http://www.kolumb.net/ has a statistic at http://www.kolumb.net/mysql/list_stats.php ...

PHP

How to redirect based on $_SERVER["HTTP_REFERER"]?

by: deko | last post by:

I have a page that I don't want anyone to be able to link directly to. The page should only be accessed from gatepage.php. I tried this code, but keep getting errors - "header info already sent",...

PHP

HTTP_REFERER

by: James | last post by:

I'm using: Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_REFERER") And apparently this isn't "reliable" anymore? As in, some browsers/firewalls don't allow it? A small block of my code is based on knowing...

ASP / Active Server Pages

Get HTTP_REFERER in popup

by: agflem | last post by:

Is there any way to grab the HTTP_REFERER server variable in a pop up? Example: www.site1.com pops open www.site2.com that needs to see if it was popped from www.site1.com Currently, that...

ASP / Active Server Pages

Javascript menus (mm_menu) not forwarding http_referer

by: Ringo Langly | last post by:

Hi everyone, We're using an outside vendor to provide some content for our website, and they use the http_referer variable to verify their content is only viewed from subscribing customers. ...

Javascript

Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_REFERER") contains nothing; why?

by: Jake | last post by:

I need to know whether a request for a resource on our web server is coming from a particular affiliate domain or from another domain. In my testing, the HTTP_REFERER variable sometimes is empty....

ASP.NET

$HTTP_REFERER crashes my system like clockwork

by: walterbyrd | last post by:

I like to develop on my desktop, then when I get stuff working, I copy to my web-site. I set up a new version Xampp on my windows-2k desktop. And downloaded the stuff from the website to edit....

PHP

HTTP_REFERER or alternative

by: mrsmithq | last post by:

I have a page that has this logic in it: //We can call it access.php if (!isset($_SESSION)){ header("Location:index.php"); exit(); } //Here is the index.php echo "<br>" . $_SERVER;

PHP

Easy Steps to Fix "Canon Printer Won't Connect to WiFi Network"

by: taylorcarr | last post by:

A Canon printer is a smart device known for being advanced, efficient, and reliable. It is designed for home, office, and hybrid workspace use and can also be used for a variety of purposes. However,...

General

How to turn on java script in a villaon keypad mobile phone

by: Charles Arthur | last post by:

How do i turn on java script on a villaon, callus and itel keypad mobile phone

Java

Basic Javascript concepts

by: aa123db | last post by:

Variable and constants Use var or let for variables and const fror constants. Var foo ='bar'; Let foo ='bar';const baz ='bar'; Functions function $name$ ($parameters$) { } ...

Javascript

Batch import of multiple excel files into the database

by: ryjfgjl | last post by:

If we have dozens or hundreds of excel to import into the database, if we use the excel import function provided by database editors such as navicat, it will be extremely tedious and time-consuming...

Data Management

Migrating Website to Cloud - Emmanuel Katto

by: emmanuelkatto | last post by:

Hi All, I am Emmanuel katto from Uganda. I want to ask what challenges you've faced while migrating a website to cloud. Please let me know. Thanks! Emmanuel

General

Is that possible of reading the .csv file in column wise and the column have different lengths ?

by: Sonnysonu | last post by:

This is the data of csv file 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 2 3 2 3 3 the lengths should be different i have to store the data by column-wise with in the specific length. suppose the i have to...

C / C++

What is ONU?

by: marktang | last post by:

ONU (Optical Network Unit) is one of the key components for providing high-speed Internet services. Its primary function is to act as an endpoint device located at the user's premises. However,...

General

Problem With Comparison Operator <=> in G++

by: Oralloy | last post by:

Hello folks, I am unable to find appropriate documentation on the type promotion of bit-fields when using the generalised comparison operator "<=>". The problem is that using the GNU compilers,...

C / C++

Maximizing Business Potential: The Nexus of Website Design and Digital Marketing

by: jinu1996 | last post by:

In today's digital age, having a compelling online presence is paramount for businesses aiming to thrive in a competitive landscape. At the heart of this digital strategy lies an intricately woven...

Online Marketing