http_referer empty? Firewalls?

Guest · Aug 9, 2004

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

Guest · Aug 9, 2004

Thanks, are there any other viable alternatives?

- Jason

Andrew Urquhart said:
*[email protected]* said:

Can one reliably use http_referer to track a user page selections

Click to expand...

[snip]

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

Aaron [SQL Server MVP] · Aug 9, 2004

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

Guest · Aug 9, 2004

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 said:
*Aaron [SQL Server MVP]* said:

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

Click to expand...

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)

Guest · Aug 9, 2004

Thanks

Aaron said:
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

Guest · Aug 9, 2004

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

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http_referer empty? Firewalls?

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Aaron [SQL Server MVP]

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